Human-operated ransomware attacks. They’re the new kids on the cyber security block. And they mean business. Well, they actually mean potential catastrophic damage to your business. And by business, we actually mean your data, identities, and a demand that runs in to thousands (or even millions) of pounds.
Human-operated ransomware campaigns are one of the most significant and impactful trends in cyberattacks, according to the Microsoft 365 Defender Threat Intelligence Team.
Human-operated ransomware is different to the cyberattacks that we usually hear about. They’re incredibly sophisticated and inherently difficult to spot. Hands-on keyboard attacks start small, but in the background, something bigger is happening. Watching your every move. Noticing patterns. Identifying weaknesses. And then BOOM.
As the name suggests, they require a human touch: invaders infiltrate, watch for patterns, highlight weak points – and then strike many months, or even years, later. By which point the attackers will know more about you and your business than you do.
And as they move laterally across your business, they can (and will) cause immeasurable damage as they go. Microsoft’s Principle Cybersecurity Consultant, Jim Moeller, warns that “we’re facing one of the greatest threats to cybersecurity, ever seen.” And that shouldn’t be taken lightly.
We don’t like to be pushy. But when it comes to something as serious as this, we are…a bit. It’s so important to have a security plan in place. If you do, implement it. And if you don’t, get in touch.
This is the party you can never be too early to.
This was originally posted 13 April 2021. Updated 12th June 2023.