We’ve got a bit of bad news. Ransomware attacks are on the rise. Don’t think so? In 2017 alone, ransomware attacks rose a whopping 250%, with those attacks hitting the U.S. the hardest

Below are just a few of the attacks that led to such a staggering spike in malicious activity as well as several new trends.

ATTACKS
WannaCry:
In May 2017, the WannaCry ransomware attack affected computers worldwide running the Microsoft Windows OS. This ransomware cryptoworm worked by encrypting data and demanding ransom payments by made in Bitcoin. The attack was estimated to have impacted 200,000+ computers in 150 countries, with damages exceeding hundreds of millions of dollars.

NotPetya:
The NotPetya virus was similar to its 2016 predecessor, Petya in that it encrypts the master file table and demands a Bitcoin ransom to restore access to the files. The reason NotPetya was so damaging and different from Petya is that NotPetya spread on its own and did not require human intervention in order to spread.

RANSOMWARE TRENDS TO KNOW
• Ransomware as a Service (RaaS):
RaaS refers to the practice that allows attackers to rent ransomware infrastructure in lieu of developing it themselves. It’s widely believed that this practice will continue to grow in popularity.
• Boutique Ransomware:
Boutique ransomware is ransomware that typically affects the attacked for a shorter duration and is sent to hundreds of thousands of potential victims instead millions or more at a time. This trend is likely to continue in 2018, as developers of malware try and continue to add ransomware to new methods of attacks.

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