Cyber threats : Ransomware Attacks

DEWI IKA (2110501032) AUGUSTA UNIVERSITY Cyber threats : Ransomware attacks 1. What separates contemporary ransomware from classic ransomware? Compared to older versions of ransomware, modern versions are more complex and sophisticated. Modern ransomware may spread more quickly via a network and employ sophisticated encryption methods that make it more difficult to decode data. Modern ransomware also frequently employs social engineering techniques to dupe people into downloading or running the software. For example, polymorphism, which involves altering the malware's code with each new infection, and sandbox evasion, which involves determining whether the malware is operating in a virtual environment used by security researchers, are two advanced evasion techniques that modern ransomware frequently uses to avoid detection by security software. A lot of computers may be swiftly infected by modern ransomware by using sophisticated distribution techniques like focused phishing emails and exploit kits. In addition to having more harmful payloads, modern ransomware can also steal data before encrypting it and use the prospect of data disclosure to further pressure victims into paying the ransom. Targeting certain businesses or industries, including those in the healthcare, financial, or governmental sectors, allows attackers to potentially make a larger profit and have a greater impact. Modern ransomware attacks pose a serious danger to businesses of all sizes and sectors because they are increasingly sophisticated, targeted, and challenging to identify and stop. 2. How can the origin of a Ransomware assault be determined? It can be difficult to pinpoint the origin of a ransomware assault since attackers frequently employ strategies like masking their IP addresses and employing anonymization software. Nevertheless, some potential techniques for locating the origin of a ransomware attack include studying network traffic to pinpoint the point of entry, looking for any distinguishing features in the virus code, and doing a forensic investigation on impacted computers to track the attacker's movements. Network traffic analysis: Determining the site of entry for a Ransomware assault may be done by looking at network traffic records.This might assist in locating the IP addresses or domains the hacker used to access the network and disseminate the virus. File analysis: Examining the malware code for any distinguishing traits can also help locate the origins of a Ransomware assault. To track the malware's origin, this may entail looking at the file's information, signature, and other properties. Forensic investigation: A forensic investigation of the impacted systems may shed light on where the Ransomware assault originated. This may entail looking through system logs, event data, and other data to track the attacker's movements and spot any signs of a breach. Threat intelligence: Threat information may also point to the origin of a Ransomware assault through sources including security blogs, forums, and social media. This can contain details about the most recent strategies, methods, and processes employed by attackers as well as any known threat actors or initiatives. It's vital to remember that figuring out the origin of a Ransomware assault can be difficult, and sometimes it may not be feasible to pinpoint the actual origin. However, companies may better comprehend the assault and take action to stop such situations in the future by utilizing a variety of informational techniques and sources. 3. What actions must be taken if a business is the target of a ransomware attack and its data is encrypted? To stop the infection from spreading further, a company that has been the target of a ransomware attack and had its data encrypted should first isolate the affected devices from the network. Then they should examine the size of the attack and gauge the degree of the damage. They can decide whether to pay the ransom or try to restore their data from backups once they have determined the type of ransomware and the amount of the damage. In order to prevent further assaults, organizations should also tighten up their security procedures and notify law enforcement about the incident. Alert law enforcement: Organizations should alert law enforcement authorities about the incident as soon as feasible. This can aid in the investigation of the incident and perhaps even the identification of the perpetrators. Before deciding whether or not to pay the ransom, organizations should carefully consider the demand. They should think about things like the worth of the encrypted data, the possibility that the attackers may reveal the decryption key, and the dangers of paying the ransom. Restore from backups: Instead of paying the ransom, businesses ought to attempt to recover their data from backups. It's crucial to check backups often to make certain they can be recovered in the case of an attack and to keep them in a safe area. Protect the impacted systems: To stop further attacks, companies should fully clean and protect the compromised systems after recovering the data or paying the ransom. This might involve installing security patches, upgrading software, and putting in place firewalls and systems for intrusion detection, among other security measures. After an attack, businesses should carry out a post-incident review to find any flaws or vulnerabilities in their security posture that may have contributed to the assault.They may use this information to strengthen their entire security posture and take action to stop potential occurrences. It's crucial to remember that the best protection against ransomware attacks is prevention. To reduce the chance of an attack and lessen its effects if it does occur, organizations should develop a multi-layered security approach that includes staff training, patch management, and frequent backups.