Ransomware attacks are becoming increasingly common, with a wide variety of services and organizations falling victim to these data-encrypting malware attacks. While some ransomware attacks are highly targeted and carefully planned out by cybercriminals, others are more opportunistic in nature. What portion of ransomware attacks are targeted vs. opportunistic?
According to a current report from Symantec, approximately 1 in 5 ransomware attacks are targeted, while the staying 4 out of 5 are opportunistic. https://thumbpower.org/?p=794 This suggests that while a small minority of ransomware attacks are performed against specific organizations or individuals, the huge majority are random attacks that make the most of vulnerabilities in systems and networks.
Targeted ransomware attacks are typically far more damaging than opportunistic attacks, as they are frequently performed by more experienced and advanced cybercriminals. Additionally, targeted attacks are often more challenging to resist, as they are frequently tailored to make use of particular weak points in a target company's systems.
While opportunistic ransomware attacks can be damaging, they are usually less expensive and disruptive than targeted attacks. In addition, opportunistic attacks are frequently more quickly detected and prevented, as they often depend on recognized vulnerabilities that can be covered.
Organizations and people can help protect themselves from both targeted and opportunistic ransomware attacks by remaining up to date on security spots, utilizing strong security software, and supporting data routinely.