Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) is still on the rise. Behind this is a professional industry that also gives less technically savvy players or amateurs access to dangerous ransomware.
The professionalization of cybercrime, especially the ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) model, is a growing trend that will continue in 2023. It is not only leading to a sustained boom in cybercrime, but also to a rapidly increasing number of threat actors. Because RaaS makes it possible for the technically inexperienced to carry out ransomware attacks via service providers who provide the necessary tools and infrastructure.
Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS)
RaaS players now offer technical support, script coaching or even point-and-click interfaces to make attacks as easy as possible for their affiliates. To make matters worse, ransomware activity in some regions poses a relatively low risk for threat actors. The lack of effective international laws and often poor cooperation between law enforcement agencies in some countries creates a perceived safe haven for cybercriminals.
This results in a very high risk, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Because more and more potential perpetrators have access to professional tools and are looking for possible targets. While more professional attackers tend to target larger organizations to maximize their potential profit, less experienced attackers focus on victims who have little or no cyber defense capabilities.
Targeting SMEs in particular
This makes SMEs the ideal target. They typically have far less security budgets and infrastructure than larger companies, and are often used as launch pads for supply chain attacks. Attackers leverage third-party trusted status to gain access to larger organizations through customer or partner networks.
With RaaS on the rise, it will remain essential in 2023 that SMEs expand their security concepts and arm themselves accordingly against possible ransomware attacks. For this it is particularly recommended to use multi-factor authentication and endpoint security software as well as to create regular offline and offsite backups. SMEs should also definitely create a concept for timely patching. With a managed detection and response solution, organizations can also augment their own security team with the expertise of external threat detection security experts. According to Pieter Arntz, Malware Intelligence Researcher at Malwarebytes.
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