Ransomware is a form of malware-based cyberattack. Once downloaded to the user’s device, the malware holds corporate data captive by locking out users or encrypting it until the organisation pays a ransom to restore the data.
Cybercriminals are known to exploit uncertainty and change, and the global workplace has undergone significant transformations in recent years; first, as the COVID-19 pandemic prompted the shift to remote work, and now, as many organisations welcome employees back into the office in a hybrid working format. These employees are carrying with them devices that may have been connected to unsecured networks, used for personal purposes, or shared with partners within the last two years, making them susceptible to malware attacks. And if any of these devices are compromised, the threat can quickly propagate to other systems once the device is reconnected to the corporate network.
What Is Ransomware And How Does It Work?
Crypto-ransomware and locker-ransomware are the two primary varieties of ransomware. Crypto-ransomware encrypts an organization’s data and demands a ransom to decrypt and return the files securely. Locker-ransomware functions similarly to encryption-ransomware, except that it prevents users from accessing files instead of encrypting them and then demands a ransom to “unlock” them. In both instances, the assailant demands payment, threatening to release sensitive information or delete data permanently if the victim does not comply.
But how does ransomware initially gain access to your system?
Typically, it begins with a parasite. Trojans are a variety of malware that deceive victims into believing they are safe by masquerading as legitimate software. According to a warning issued by the CISA, Emotet, a notorious trojan that was first identified in 2014, has recently resurfaced in a series of attacks, making it one of the most pervasive ongoing threats that organisations are currently facing.
Trojans such as Emotet are predominantly distributed via spam emails. If the recipient opens the attached file or clicks on the URL, they will unknowingly obtain the trojan, which can then steal sensitive information. However, it can also be used to propagate other malware, such as TrickBot or Qbot. This second layer of malware then spreads laterally throughout the organisation, hijacking credentials, deploying backdoors, and attempting to access the domain controller. If the perpetrator gains access to the domain controller, ransomware such as Ryuk, which encrypts the organization’s data and demands a ransom, can be deployed.
Some ransomware, however, can propagate without user interaction. Worms such as WannaCry are a form of malware that replicate themselves so that they can spread like wildfire through a system without the need for malicious URLs or attachments.
How Can You Recover From A Ransomware Attack?
1. Don’t pay the ransom.
First and foremost, avoid paying the ransom. Unless you have no backup copies of your data stored elsewhere, you must consider the cost of the data loss against the requested payment. There are several explanations for this:
a. Remember that you are dealing with a criminal in this situation. Paying the ransom does not guarantee that your data will be recovered.
b. You are proving that the attacker’s process is effective, which will encourage them to target additional organisations, which will then follow your example and pay up – it’s a vicious cycle.
c. Paying the ransom doubles the expense of an attack response. If you are able to recover your data, the malware will still be present on your servers, so you will still need to thoroughly clear them. In addition to the ransom, you will incur additional expenses for downtime, personnel time, device costs, etc.
2. Report the attack.
After taking a deep breath and putting your wallet away, you must report the attack. This will assist authorities in identifying the perpetrator and determining how they select their targets, thereby preventing other organisations from falling victim to the same attack.
Typically, you can contact your local police department, who will connect you with their cybercrime investigations division.
3. Cleanse your systems.
Two issues arise with ransomware removal software. First, only the attacker can fully remove ransomware. Second, even after cleansing your system, you may not be able to access your data. Unfortunately, there is no decryption solution for all ransomware, and the newer and more sophisticated the ransomware, the longer it will take experts to develop a programme to unlock your information.
Encryption also requires running a decryption key and the original file through a programme to recover it. Modern attacks employ a unique key for each victim, so even a supercomputer may take years to find the proper key. TeslaCrypt, for instance, used a single key to open numerous victims’ data, while later iterations allow the criminal to utilise individual encryption keys for each victim.
Thus, the ideal approach is to wipe all storage devices and reload everything from scratch. This will eliminate ransomware and provide you a clean slate to restore your data.
4. Restore your data.
Backups can restore data in several ways. First, DIY system restoration. Pros: inexpensive and simple. Cons: You won’t be able to recover personal files and the data may contain malware. This option could take you back to step one, and even if it doesn’t, you won’t get everything back. For third-party catastrophe recovery, you need a good backup system.
Backup and recovery solutions make a point-in-time copy of all your files, databases, and computers and store them on an isolated storage device. The benefits include guaranteed and secure file recovery and vendor support to help you recover. The answer costs money, but you can’t have everything.
Point-in-time recovery, also known as continuous data protection or journaling, is the finest ransomware-recovery backup and recovery option. This tightly version-controlled recovery solution lets organisations restore data from seconds before the ransomware arrived.
Endpoint Detection And Response
Once you’ve recovered from a breach, you need to make sure that it won’t happen again. Cleansing your system of malicious files isn’t enough – you need to identify what caused the breach in the first place and work out what the attacker did before they managed to encrypt or lock down your data.
Endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions continuously monitor all incoming and outgoing traffic on a network for potential threats. If a threat is detected, the solution isolates the affected machine so that the malware can’t spread. But here’s the important part: EDR doesn’t just keep a record of the incident itself, but of all the events that led up to the incident, too. This means that you can see which files, processes and registry keys the hacker accessed, and identify where the attack started and how it progressed. You can then use this information to stop the same incident from occurring again.