Ransomware Attack Volume Increases by 18% As the Number of Variants Jumps to 34 in Only One Quarter
A new report reviewing ransomware activity in 2021 shows an impressive uptick in the number of targeted attacks in Q4 of 2021 to 772 as more players join (or rejoin) the game.
Ransomware has proven itself to be one of the most (if not the most) profitable cybercriminal activity today. So, it’s no wonder that we’re continuing to see increases in the number of attacks and players in the space. According to new data in Intel471’s Ransomware Variant Report, ransomware gangs are very active, targeting victim organizations throughout the world. In Q4, the most prominent ransomware variants were:
- Lockbit was responsible for 30% of attacks
- Conti, for 19%
- PYSA, for 10.5%
- Hive, for 10.1%
In every case, the leading geography attacked was North America, with Europe consistently in second place. Intel471 also points out an average ransom of $1 million across these 722 attacks – while lower than seen in their previous reports, it still indicates that cybercriminals believe they can get (or are getting) 7-figure sums.
With these increases, organizations should secure and/or eliminate any remote desktop access and teach users to remain vigilant via Security Awareness Training to minimize the effectiveness of phishing attacks, all to address the most common means of initial access for most ransomware attacks.
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