Businesses all over the world are currently in a panic about malware called ransomware. The 2017 online epidemic that happened globally is happening again. Many companies are affected, and the latest addition to the list is the Japanese company Fujifilm. But if you do not know what ransomware is yet, watch this video until the end, smash the like button, subscribe now for more content, and hit the notification bell for updates on this topic. Now, let us get into it- RANSOMWARE ATTACK HOLDS BUSINESSES CAPTIVE, INCLUDING FUJIFILM
WHAT IS RANSOMWARE?
We now live in a world where online life is the new normal. Even businesses rely on online ledgers and transactions. And if you are well knowledgeable on what occurs on the internet, you know that hackers set viruses or malware that can get your information or destroy your files. Ransomware is one of them. It is so easy to set this malware and easy to catch it.
Most hackers are phishing spam emails that include links, which will infect your computer once opened. Social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, is also used to send links. Installing unknown or unverified programs also make you a victim of ransomware. Sometimes, the hackers will use other software to enter your computer. They will act as an administrator and trick you into following their guides. Once you do, they will have access to your files, which will be locked or encrypted.
There are two types of ransomwares: the Crypto and the Locker. Crypto ransomware will encrypt the data in the computer of the victim. Only the hackers have the key to decrypt your files. The Locker ransomware, on the other hand, completely locks out the user to their computer.
When a person or a company is attacked with ransomware, the hackers will ask them for a ransom to give you the key for decrypting files or to give you access again on your locked computer. The ransom will be in amounts of cryptocurrency, often bitcoin. It is a wise choice for them because Bitcoin is untraceable. One coin also costs 33 thousand US dollars today.
KEY TARGETS OF RANSOMWARE
Whether you have a small business, part of a big company, working for the government, you can be a target of ransomware. As of November 2020, the estimated ransomware victims are more than 205,000 organizations in the United States. However, most of the victims are public services like healthcare and education.
The healthcare sector is already a favorite target before the pandemic started, to the point where one or more hackers even stopped harassing them. However, even if some hackers are letting go of the healthcare, Kroll keeps rising and attacking their systems.
According to the compiled reports, Kroll’s focus is on the schools and universities, whether they are public sectors or private. However, some universities are also affiliated with hospitals, thus making those their targets as well.
WANNACRY RANSOMWARE ATTACK OF 2017
Sometimes, it is not a specific set of sectors they want to attack. There are times where the hackers want to infect those who are vulnerable. This is what happened to the 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack.
WannaCry is malware developed to infect multiple computers quickly through Microsoft Windows. In May 2017, not all computers were updated and have the MS17-010 security patch installed. The malware WannaCry quickly creeps through these computers and encrypts its data.
However, unlike other ransomware hackers, which range thousands to unlock the encrypted files and locked computers, WannaCry only asks for 300 to 600 US dollars. It might seem small, but there are conditions. The victims are pressured to pay in three days. Otherwise, they will never recover their data.
The malware not only spread on different computers in the United States but also in 150 different countries. In total, there were more than a hundred organizations that reported WannaCry attacks. It includes energy companies, utilities, global companies like FedEx, and government offices.
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