#Infosec2024: Ransomware Ecosystem Transformed, New Groups “Changing the Rules”
Significant changes to the ransomware ecosystem were discussed at Infosecurity Europe 2024, with new groups changing the rules of the game
Ransomware encrypts or steals data to disrupt operations and extort victims, making backups, access controls, and incident response essential.
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Background for this topic.
Ransomware is malware used to deny access to systems or data, usually by encrypting files and demanding payment for decryption. Many operations also steal sensitive information and threaten to publish it, so an attack can create both an availability crisis and a privacy or disclosure risk. Initial access may involve phishing, stolen credentials, exposed remote services, or exploitation of unpatched vulnerabilities; attackers may then move through the network before deploying the payload.
Defenses should combine vulnerability management, phishing-resistant authentication where practical, endpoint and network monitoring, and backups that are isolated from routine administrator access and regularly tested for recovery. Organizations should also limit privileges and segment critical systems to reduce the blast radius. An incident requires rapid containment, preservation of forensic evidence, restoration from known-good backups, and assessment of notification, legal, and regulatory obligations. Threat intelligence can help identify relevant criminal infrastructure or tactics, but it does not replace sound access control, patching, detection, and recovery practices.
Significant changes to the ransomware ecosystem were discussed at Infosecurity Europe 2024, with new groups changing the rules of the game
Police, insurance and private sector security experts argue UK government proposals on ransomware payments could benefit the community
A ransomware attack on a supplier of pathology services has forced leading London hospitals to cancel operations and divert emergency patients
Organizations need to collaborate to bolster their defenses in the face of new and emerging threats
The latest Abnormal Security report shows 83% of firms faced at least one account takeover in the past year
Ransomware activity rose in 2023, partly fueled by new groups and partnerships between groups, Mandiant has observed