Research Suggests Ransomware is Down Due to COVID-19
The number of successful ransomware attacks has decreased to a level not seen in several years.
April 22, 2020 – Ransomware attack in the US is down during Q1 2020, according to a report by malware lab Emsisoft. The firm attributes this to the ongoing public health crisis due to COVID-19. It remarks that the number of successful attacks has decreased to a level not seen in several years.
Emsisoft reported that because non-essential services are paused due to COVID-19, it may have effectively reduced organizations’ attack surface. Furthermore, while work from home (WFH) may have introduced new vulnerabilities, it may have also posed challenges for ransomware groups.
The number of successful ransomware may have also been reduced because companies now may not have the money to pay.
Still, Emsisoft said ransomware normally has seasonal aspect with successful attacks frequently happening at certain times of the year. Because of that, the company thinks this relief from ransomware attacks may only be temporary.
Ransomware is a type of malicious software that blocks access to a computer (or a group of computers) until a sum of money is paid.
In Q1 2020, Ransomware is identified as one of the top cyberthreats in the ASEAN region. This is in addition to cryptojacking, which has emerged as a new threat due to the growing use of cryptocurrency.
This article is published on BitPinas:Â Research Suggests Ransomware is Down Due to COVID-19
