THE IT SECURITY PROFESSIONAL |
Barlowtek
The It security Pro
Helping Organizations Understand IT Security
&
Best Practices
Growth of Ransomware Attacks: Strategies for Preventing & Isolating Them in Your Organization5/24/2021 As the days continue to drag on with the most resent high-profile ransomware attack here in the US (Colonial Pipeline that started on May 6th 2021), the east coast and the south are feeling the brunt of the effects of this recent attack the most. This is not a new thing; ransomware has been around for a few years now and organizations of all sizes should be prepared for its potential effects on their business. We have seen attacks against municipalities infrastructure and also governmental services as well. Ransomware is indiscriminate in who or what they attack, and let’s be clear here, these are individuals that are out to extort money from whomever and wherever they can. It is that plain and simple. This was a targeted attack on a system that was vulnerable. Preparation for Attack One of the key aspects that is coming to light after the initial shock of it is that the infrastructure that supports the US economy is the largest target on the face of the planet for these types of attacks. Whether it is the lack of a Patch Management Process, or simply using outdated and unsupported equipment, the attackers have done their research in preparation for the attack. Additionally, it was also revealed that they were able to exfiltrate a large amount of data prior to the attack taking place. Is this preparation for more to come? Paying the Ransom or Not? As most IT Security Pros know, the company or organization will have to determine what is in their best interests to do. Is it to pay the ransom and get on with your business, or is it better to work to find the culprits who are behind it, or even to simply replace the systems that have been locked? This is the biggest decision that must be made, and it can’t be made in a vacuum, it must be made in public. But this has consequences for either decision or the potential impacts those may have on the organization. Social Stigma The issue that seems to come up is what sort of publicity is going to be generated by the ransomware attack? The Colonial Pipeline attack has proven that this key infrastructure is vulnerable and that security measures must be taken in order to address them. It’s a terrible thing to have the world know that you have lack security measures in place and that your organization has been using outdated processes and equipment on a vital piece of infrastructure. What has come out in the last day (May 12th, 2021) is that Colonial Pipeline has told the world that they were not going to pay the ransom that was demanded of them. But as it turns out, they actually did, to the tune of over $5 million dollars. And when they got the key to unlock their systems, it didn’t work. Talk about having egg on your face! How will Colonial Pipeline explain what happened? Increasing Threats As organizations continue to keep quite on how much they are actually paying for the ransoms of their own information, attackers are ever increasing the amounts that they are asking for. As of the writing of this article, CNA Financial has recently disclosed that they have paid up to $40 Million dollars in order to obtain access to their information. (A link the article is provided below). This shows that depending on the organization that is targeted, it could end up being a huge payday for the criminals involved in the extortion. Stemming the tide of Infection One of the key components of ransomware is that it will usually migrate from system to system depending on the type and complexity of the infection apparatus that is being utilized. The following may be considered as ways of helping to stem the tide of infection and preventing more systems from being compromised:
The End User Delma When it comes to security of the network, the key factor in all of the outbreaks of ransomware has been the end user doing or downloading something that they know they should not. This education process comes in the form of Security Awareness training and how often it is performed. People are creatures of habit and curiosity, and so they will perform tasks without really thinking of the consequences that it may cause them. Here are a few of the ways that a potential ransomware attack can compromise your network:
Solutions
These are current solutions or ways in which to mitigate or lesson the potential impact of a ransomware attack:
Even with all the actions that have been provided here, organizations are still going to be compromised and will be held ransom for the data that they can’t access. This is also an ever-evolving area of IT Security and the IT Security Pro will need to know what it takes to help prevent an outbreak to their systems. No matter what strategy is employed by the organization, there will be a way to defeat it or work around it. The easiest way as pointed out above, is to focus on the end user and their potential actions when provided a compromised system of file. User education will allow the IT Security Pro to know where a potential attack may be coming from and what form it may be coming in. Educating the end user will help to secure up the frontline in the threat of a potential ransomware attack or may end up preventing one. Reference: www.theverge.com/2021/5/20/22446388/cna-insurance-ransomware-attack-40-million-dollar-ransom
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
IT Security ProSecuring the future one byte at a time! Mr. Barlow is here, staying ahead of the curve in Information Security Leadership. Ready to help your company stay safe and secure. Categories
All
Archives
January 2023
|