Andrew Brady’s Post

⏰ It’s been 8 days, 5 hours, and 39 minutes since a #threatactor made it past your network #firewall. Once in the system, the team of three cyber criminals: 1. Enumerated your assets + valuable information 2. Retained access to your proprietary files and network containers 3. Established persistence on an office printer, quietly siphoning invoices, employee lists, maps of the production floor, and other proprietary materials 4. Exfiltrated the information over the web connection 5. Monetized that material + their access to your network 6. Communicated the breach with your team, encrypted your network, and left a note on a company device with the ransom set to expire in 48 hours, at which point (without the ransom paid) they will make the information they captured public. So now what? Read on:

🚨 Beware: Paying a Ransom Doesn't Always End the Nightmare 🚨 The harsh reality of ransomware attacks is hitting hard. A recent study by Cybereason sheds light on a troubling trend: the majority of organizations that pay a ransom end up suffering a second attack. According to the findings, a staggering 78% of organizations that paid a ransom found themselves targeted again, with 63% asked to cough up even more the second time around. What's worse? These attacks aren't just repeats by the same threat actor; 42% of second attacks were carried out by entirely different attackers. Paying the ransom doesn't guarantee a smooth resolution either. Only 47% of those who paid managed to recover their files, leaving many grappling with lost or corrupted data. And while ransomware groups often remove stolen data upon payment, there's no assurance it won't resurface elsewhere, posing ongoing threats to victim organizations. So why do organizations still pay? Fear of data disclosure, compounded by factors like backup deficiencies, recovery time concerns, and fears of business disruptions. Yet, the costs—both financial and reputational—can be staggering, with losses ranging from millions to over $10 million for some. This underscores the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures and proactive defense strategies. Relying solely on paying ransoms isn't a sustainable solution—it's time to invest in prevention, detection, and response capabilities to counter these evolving threats. #cyberattacks #Ransomware #Cybersecurity #DataProtection #Prevention #datasecurity

When a breach happens, it is important to thoughtfully identify, mitigate, respond, recover, and remediate. Having an Incident Commander to lead the process when time is of the essence, is critical. Here are some additional tips from Sr. Managing Director, Jason Floyd, on what to do during those critical hours after you first identify the breach.

Old school ransomware attacks were all about maliciously encrypting vulnerable data and demanding a ransom to unlock it. But in the evolving world of cyberattacks, they’re now using a new tactic known as “triple extortion”. First, as with standard ransomware attacks, the victim's data is encrypted, and a ransom demanded in exchange for the decryption key. Secondly, they threaten to make public or sell this information if the victim doesn’t come up with the ransom, adding more pressure to pay to avoid reputational damage and legal proceedings. Thirdly, they will target individuals and harass partners, affiliates and associates of the victim organisation (for example, suppliers or sponsors that do business with the target). While it is very difficult to stop triple extortion once your data has been comprised, experts still recommend keeping copies of your data securely offline using tape technology. What makes tape a key weapon in the fight against ransomware is that you can place your data behind a physical, disconnected, air gap barrier. In the event of a triple extortion attack, and bearing in mind that in many cases, data is published regardless, at least you then have a choice. You can deal with the known consequences of a data breach while recovering all of your data from good tape copies. In turn, this could mean that you can ignore the ransomware demands because you are able to recover the data and focus instead on improving your cyber security defences. Experts like John Petrozzelli, Director of the Massachusetts Cyber Security Center recommend not paying the ransom on the grounds that this simply fuels future criminal activity. Their advice is to engage in and timely communication is crucial. Inform all stakeholders about the incident as soon as possible. Be honest about the nature of the attack, the data that was compromised, and the steps being taken to address it. Involve law enforcement agencies to bring their expertise into the recovery effort while ensuring that your response complies with all relevant laws and regulations, including data breach reporting requirements. A swift and well-executed response can help mitigate the PR fallout from a triple extortion ransomware attack. Transparency, communication, and a commitment to security are key components of effective crisis management in these situations. https://bit.ly/49oPI41 #ransomware #cybersecurity #dataprotection #lto #lastinginnovation

Getting hacked is a serious concern for any business, but at Mayer Networks, we're confident in our ability to protect your data. Some studies have found that 50% of small businesses in the U.S. have been attacked, we know that our advanced security resources and technology can keep your business safe. If a breach does still occur, our fast response time sets us apart, with technicians dedicated to getting you up and running again. We know that the longer a breach goes unnoticed, the more damage it can cause, but you can rest assured that we'll quickly isolate and contain any attack. Our data backup services are another key aspect of our confidence in protecting your business, and we're proud to offer same-day restoration in the event of a disaster. Choose the best in Southern Illinois top-notch cybersecurity with us and get a FREE assessment scheduled today. https://lnkd.in/gaygTxSn

Your Business is a Sitting Duck for Ruthless Cyber Pirates Your business could be the next victim of a savage ransomware attack. You read that right. 82% of ransomware attacks in2021 were against companies like yours, with fewer than 1,000 employees. The cyber pirates aren't picking on the big guys anymore. They're coming for YOU. Because they know you're an easy target. They see your business as a mouth-watering, juicy steak just waiting to be devoured. And believe me, they're salivating. You might think you're safe, hidden away in the internet's back alleys. But you're not. You're in the crosshairs. And unless you act now, it's not a matter of IF they strike, but WHEN. But here's the good news: You can fight back. You can secure your systems and protect your business from these ruthless cyber marauders. And I can help you do it. But you need to take the first step. You need to acknowledge the threat and decide to do something about it. Because the alternative isn't pretty. Imagine waking up one morning to find your files encrypted, your systems paralyzed. And a nasty ransom note demanding a king's ransom to get them back. That's a nightmare scenario for any business owner. But it doesn't have to be your reality. You can take action now, fortify your defenses, and send those cyber pirates packing. Ready to secure your systems? Let's talk. 📞 01706 489 075 🌐 flooditsupport.com

According to a Sophos survey, 97% of respondents sought government or law enforcement assistance last year after a cyber attack. Unfortunately only 4 in 10 got real help in recovery and 6 in 10 got "advice". One of the major takeaways is how important it is to have regularly tested backups on deck so that in light of a ransomeware attack, you are able to get things back up and running (hopefully) with minimal impact to your business and without having to shell out the cash to get your data back. More great datapoints via IT Brew: https://lnkd.in/d7TqTbPf

Securing your small business from cyber threats doesn't have to be costly or complex. Despite the common belief that larger companies are prime targets, recent stats show that small businesses, lacking strong security measures, account for 43% of cyberattacks. In this insightful article by Krista Ciotoiu, discover practical strategies to protect your business without breaking the bank. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g3Wvmq5a #SmallBusinessSecurity #CybersecurityTips #ProtectYourBusiness

Find out why no business should let IT issues like cyber crime, downtime and strategic planning fall by the wayside based on their size. Is Your Business “Too Small” to Need IT Services? https://bit.ly/3Wqy648

💷 The hefty cost of cyber attacks and data breaches make it into the news quite often, but where does all that money go? This is one from the archive that we've updated with some of the latest stats. Read it here: https://lnkd.in/e2RU6sW6 #databreach #cyberattack #costbreakdown #money