Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts your files and requires payment of a ransom in return for restoring access to your data. If the ransom is not paid, your data could be deleted, held hostage, or exfiltrated to the dark web or other sites for malicious intent. As there’s no guarantee that a perpetrator will honor the terms of the ransom, preventing ransomware by building a data resilient architecture that employs cybersecurity best practices and immutability is your best option.
Like all malware, ransomware must be downloaded onto your machine or network for it to gain access to your data. The most common way to contract ransomware is through a downloadable attachment delivered via a phishing email, but thumb drives, compromised apps, infected websites, social engineering, and insider threats are also viable attack vectors.
Once downloaded and executed, ransomware encrypts the host system’s files, rendering it computationally inaccessible without the right decryption key. Typically, a ransom note is presented to the owners of the compromised system with details on how and how much to pay to have files released. More sophisticated ransomware can deliver its payload without relying on human error, and instead, by exploiting critical software vulnerabilities in your system.
Recognizing the signs of a ransomware infection is crucial for early detection and response. Here are key indicators to watch for:
Understanding the potential consequences of ransomware attacks is essential for preparedness. The impact of these attacks can be far-reaching and includes:
Ransomware as a service (RaaS) is a criminal enterprise model in which affiliates pay ransomware operators a subscription fee for access to RaaS kits that may be used to deploy, monitor, and manage their own ransomware campaigns.
RaaS kits often include dedicated “Command and Control” dashboards for the affiliate to track and manage their campaigns, giving them visibility into encrypted files and infected machines. The RaaS portal also allows users to set custom post-compromise user messages, set ransom demands, and track profits.
RaaS kits may be found on the dark web, complete with 24x7 support, user reviews, forums, and other features typically associated with legitimate SaaS providers. They can be accessed with a flat subscription fee or through affiliate programs with a percentage of the profits going to the ransomware developer.
Wiper malware, also known as wiperware, is a type of pseudo ransomware where the goal of the malware is to destroy a victim’s systems and data rather than extract a ransom in return for decrypting the files. Wiperware may still use ransomware messaging to dangle the hope of recovering all your files, but this is a delay tactic used to buy time to gain access to more systems, spread to other users, and increase the damage footprint. The ransomware messages also serve to disguise the true intent of the attack long enough to execute. Since a ransom is not the goal, these attacks are typically carried out as cyber espionage by governments attempting to damage infrastructure.
Proactive measures to prevent ransomware attacks are paramount in safeguarding your organization's data and operations. Consider the following preventive strategies:
In the event of a ransomware attack, a well-defined response plan is essential to minimize damage and facilitate recovery. Here's how to respond effectively:
Beyond prevention and response, here are steps you can take to mitigate damage and downtime, including:
Find out why data resiliency is top priority in the White House cybersecurity strategy. >>
Conventional data protection measures were designed to safeguard your data from natural or human-made disasters, data corruption, or accidental deletions. However, ransomware attacks can stress existing data protection infrastructure that may be built on legacy architectures, such as disk and tape, more than expected. To respond to ever-evolving threats like ransomware, data resiliency must be baked into the architecture from the ground up.
Pure Storage® SafeMode™ Snapshots provide built-in protection for your data in the event of a ransomware attack by frequently backing up your system to read-only snapshots from which you can recover your data. SafeMode helps secure critical data since these snapshots can’t be modified, deleted, or encrypted, even if admin credentials have been compromised. Think of these immutable snapshots like airbags—they won’t prevent a crash, but they’ll increase your odds of walking away from the crash unharmed.
Available with all FlashBlade® and FlashArray™ systems, SafeMode is included with the Purity operating environment as part of your Pure Storage subscription.
When ransomware strikes, you need to restore your data quickly. But legacy systems and purpose-built appliances are notoriously slow and not designed for recovery. Rapid Restore, powered by Pure Storage FlashBlade systems, dramatically increases the speed of data restoration without the need to change your backup software. FlashBlade delivers Rapid Restore and petabyte recovery at scale with up to 270TB/hr data recovery performance.
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