![]() ![]() The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 2,084 ransomware complaints in the first half of 2021.There were 121 reported ransomware incidents reported in the first half of 2021, a 64% increase from 2020.80% of organizations were hit by a ransomware attack in 2021.Ransomware attacks experienced annually by organizations have been on the rise since 2018, peaking at 68.5% in 2021.Globally, there were 304.7 million ransomware attacks in the first half of 2021, a 151% increase since 2020.This explosive uptick in attacks is expected to continue in 2023 and beyond. Ransomware was also the third most used cyberattack method in 2021, accounting for 10% of all data breaches. Ransomware attacks are one of the fastest-growing cyber threats in recent history - reports of ransomware incidents increased 62% in 2021 compared to 2020. How Common Were Ransomware Attacks in 2021? Interrupting this sector has a threatening impact that is more likely to result in a ransom payoff for attackers. This is likely due to the nature of the industrial services industry, as it provides goods and services that are vital to the economy and daily flow of business. Colonial Pipeline ultimately paid a ransom of close to $5 million to decrypt the locked systems.Ĭritical infrastructure networks like Colonial Pipeline’s are increasingly growing targets of ransomware, especially as RaaS schemes become more widespread. The DarkSide attack forced the company to halt all pipeline operations and IT systems, which led to a gas shortage across the East Coast. One of the most high-profile attacks to hit this sector was the DarkSide ransomware attack against Colonial Pipeline in May 2021.Ĭolonial Pipeline is one of the largest fuel pipeline operators in the United States they provide roughly 45% of the East Coast’s fuel supply, and transport over 100 million gallons of fuel across the country daily. While ransomware remains one of the most widely used attack methods across all sectors, the industrial goods and services sector was the most targeted in 2021. ![]() The Industrial Goods and Services Sector Is the Largest Target Since RaaS allows cybercriminals with even elementary technical skills to deploy a ransomware attack, the RaaS business model will continue to fuel the threat landscape in 2023. RaaS is an affiliate program in nature - for every successful ransom payment made, the creators of the tools receive a percentage. RaaS is a type of pay-for-use malware that allows cybercriminals to purchase ransomware tools that have already been developed in order to carry out large-scale ransomware attacks. As a result, the evolution of ransomware-as-a-service, or RaaS, has gained increasing traction. While home users were once the main target for ransomware attacks, threat actors today are targeting large enterprise networks with more frequency. The average ransom payment has also increased by 82% since 2020, reaching a whopping $570,000 in the first half of 2021 alone. The average ransom demand in the first half of 2021 amounted to $5.3 million - a 518% increase compared to 2020. Ransom Demands Are IncreasingĪs new approaches to ransomware like double extortion continue to pay off, attackers are demanding higher ransom payouts than ever before. The combined threat of encryption and data exfiltration is a form of double extortion, and threat actors are increasingly leveraging this attack method as it proves to be more profitable. Now, ransomware groups are exfiltrating victims’ data to an offsite location before encryption, then threatening to leak or publish the data if a ransom isn’t received. In years past, ransomware was mainly accomplished by single extortion, where attackers encrypt an organization’s data and demand a ransom in exchange for a decryption key. The Rise of Double Extortion: Attack Methods Are Evolving (or jump to our infographic below!) Key Ransomware Attack TrendsĪs the cyber threat landscape continues to evolve, a few key trends can be seen in the ongoing rise of ransomware attacks. Read on to learn about the most important ransomware statistics that will be vital for security in 2023 and beyond, along with prevention tips and how to ensure your organization is prepared for an attack. This became especially apparent amid COVID-19, which provided new opportunities for attackers - ransomware attacks surged by 148% in March of 2020. Ransomware attacks are more prevalent than ever, and they’re wreaking havoc across a range of industries. Unfortunately, this type of cyberattack is on the rise - ransomware was named the top threat type for 2021, and attacks increased over 140% in Q3 of 2021 alone. Ransomware is a type of malware that threatens to destroy or withhold a victim’s critical data unless a ransom is paid to the attacker.
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