It is becoming increasingly difficult for businesses to create cybersecurity solutions to battle the new wave of cybercriminals. Since cybercriminals are changing their hacking tactics continuously, traditional protection measures are not just enough.
Ransomware removal experts have identified that there is a noticeable shift in the nature of cybercriminals. They reveal that those hackers who have a weaker skill-set and use out-dated hacking strategies are not getting much success, and as a result, they are swiftly driven out of the business. At first glance, this does seem good news, but this also means that the best cybercriminals are still active.
The New Face of a Cybercriminal
Generally, the representation of a cybercriminal in the minds of people is borrowed from pop culture. In Hollywood depictions, a hacker is supposed to be a young teen sporting a hoodie and has a burning desire to either become famous or enact revenge against someone.
However, the reality is quite different. Last year, a new trend was initiated with the emergence of capitalist hackers. These individuals are highly influenced by the temptations of bigger rewards—ransom payments have gone as high as $9 million. They are highly dedicated towards their job which they view as a serious profession, not unlike how most engineers, doctors, or bankers feel toward their respective professions.
Through the use of a ransomware attack, they attempt to force businesses to surrender to threats of data deletion. Within a short period of time, the rewards have transformed the industry into quite a lucrative business.
Targeted Attacks
Some analysts are in awe of the dedication from these hackers as this new brand of cybercriminal has resolved to take any measure for a successful ransomware attack. As a consequence, they have designed highly powerful and targeted ransomware strains which can dismantle the operations of the biggest brands and government institutions.
As a business owner, you should know that a targeted ransomware attack is quite harmful, especially in comparison to one which is spread via a bot. Bear in mind that these cybercriminals search for victims, take ample time to research, adapt quickly, and then re-adjust themselves according to any existing hurdle. Likewise, they are smart enough to attempt removing any backup. This modus operandi has been referred to as “interactive” and is increasingly gaining prominence in the last few months.
Final Thoughts
It is time that the businesses and cybersecurity companies realize that using anti-ransomware tools and placing certain security measures is not enough. In addition to such tools, they must understand the psyche behind their enemies and delve into their motivations and aspirations. Making sense of this psychology can prove vital to cut the problem from its root effectively and open new doors for ransomware removal.
