{"id":1083,"date":"2024-11-19T10:40:28","date_gmt":"2024-11-19T15:40:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/domainsure.com\/?p=1083"},"modified":"2024-11-19T10:40:28","modified_gmt":"2024-11-19T15:40:28","slug":"avoid-paying-hackers-ransomware-payouts-could-triple-last-years-total-to-over-113m-in-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/domainsure.com\/articles\/avoid-paying-hackers-ransomware-payouts-could-triple-last-years-total-to-over-113m-in-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Avoid Paying Hackers: Ransomware Payouts Could Triple Last Year\u2019s Total to Over $113M in 2024"},"content":{"rendered":"
Ransomware<\/strong> payouts might jump to over $113 million in a big increase from last year. This shows how dangerous ransomware<\/strong> attacks are getting. It’s crucial for companies to step up their cybersecurity<\/strong> to avoid these threats.<\/p>\n LockBit, now one of the biggest names in ransomware<\/strong>, causing 44% of attacks from January to September last year is setting the standard for payouts. They’ve made over $100 million in demands and got away with tens of millions. They target companies, encrypt their data, and ask for huge ransoms, from a few hundred thousand to tens of millions of dollars.<\/p>\n Ransomware does more than just cause financial harm. It disrupts operations, damage reputations, and lead to lawsuits. With Ransomware-as-a-Service, it’s easier for hackers to attack companies. In 2021, US banks and financial institutions paid about $1.2 billion in ransomware3<\/sup><\/a>.<\/p>\n To protect assets, and in customer information, companies need strong cybersecurity and DNS security<\/strong>. By using good cybersecurity<\/strong> programs, stopping phishing attacks<\/strong>, and securing remote access, they can lower their risk of getting hit by ransomware.<\/p>\n Key Takeaways<\/strong><\/p>\n The Growing Threat of Ransomware Attacks<\/strong><\/p>\n Ransomware attacks are a big worry for companies everywhere. They’re getting more common and smarter. These attacks encrypt files, making them hard to get back without paying the attackers. The effects can be huge, causing money loss, damage to reputation, and problems with how things work.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Understanding Ransomware and Its Impact<\/strong><\/p>\n Ransomware gets into systems through tricks like phishing attacks<\/a> or bad websites. Once inside, it uses strong data encryption<\/em> methods, making files hard to get back without paying the ransom. The cost of these attacks is huge, with over $75.6 million paid out for one ransom in 2024. And the amount hackers ask for keeps increasing.<\/p>\n Big companies, governments, and important infrastructure are often the targets4<\/sup><\/a>. In 2023, the average ransom demand was $4 million, with some reaching $35 million5<\/sup><\/a>. Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) has made these attacks even more likely4<\/sup><\/a>.<\/p>\n Recent High-Profile Ransomware Incidents<\/strong><\/p>\n Many big ransomware cases have been in the news lately. In August, 33 healthcare data breaches happened, affecting 673,934 people. Pacific Alliance Medical Center was hit, losing data on 266,133 patients. Hacking, including phishing and ransomware, caused 54.5% of all data breaches that month.<\/p>\n A big incident was in May when Scripps Health was hit. It lost data on 147,000 patients and cost $113 million to fix. This shows how important good cyber threat intelligence<\/em> and incident response<\/em> are.<\/p>\n The threat of ransomware attacks needs quick action from all kinds of organizations. By understanding how attackers work and having strong cybersecurity plans, we can lessen the risk and damage from these attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n