Ransomware Statistics Overview
Ransomware is a huge problem. Ransomware attacks, demands, payments, and consequences are all statistics that you should be aware of.Attacks
Ransomware has become the most prevalent malware online threat today. Ransomware hackers use the following tactics most commonly: Email Phishing- Malicious emails that trick people into giving personal Information or clicking on a bad link RDP Vulnerabilities – Remote Desktop Protocols that allow hackers to access your computer because RDP is not secured properly remotely Software Vulnerabilities- A bug that hackers can use to gain access to your PC Hackers use email phishing because it is scalable. Around one in every 6,000 emails contains suspicious URLs that could prevent ransomware. In 2020, there were 304,000,000 ransomware attacks reported worldwide. This is equivalent to over 37,700 attacks per hour or 578 attacks every minute. Ransomware attacks are a major problem in the United States. Since 2016, there have been over 4,000 ransomware incidents per day in the US.Demands and Payments
Why do hackers carry out ransomware attacks ? It is the easiest way to make money. They want to hold your computer hostage by blocking it until you pay. It’s a sad fact that it works. In the first half of 2021, it was estimated that ransomware victims paid more than 590 million. Ransomware as an industry is estimated to be worth $14 billion by 2022. In 2020, ransomware attacks will increase significantly because of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first three quarters, 21% of breaches were caused by ransomware. In 2020, the total ransom paid increased by 311% to reach nearly $350 million. The number of organizations that have paid ransoms also increased. The number of ransom-paying organizations increased from 26% to 32% between 2020 and 2021. After paying the ransom, only 8% of organizations received their data. You are NOT GUARANTEEED to get your data even after you pay a hacker. How much is the ransom worth? Lots. In 2020, the average ransom demanded was $200,000. In 2018, the ransom fee was only $5,000. In just two years, ransom requests have increased by 3,900%! But 2021 marked a new year of ransomware. In 2021, an insurance company paid out $40 million as the largest ransomware payment. This was a world record that was set for the wrong reasons. The previous highest ransomware payment was $11 Million. Even large companies can be attacked, as these statistics on ransomware show. Hackers are becoming more bold and demanding larger ransoms.Consequences
The loss of money is not the only thing that can be considered. What are the effects of ransomware attacks on your computer? A recent survey of 1,263 companies revealed that 80 percent of the victims paid a ransom to a hacker and were then attacked shortly after. It’s difficult to protect digital data after an attack. Only 46% of victims who paid their attackers received their data back. Most data was also corrupted. Even after paying for their files, less than half of the companies received them back. The majority were damaged. According to survey respondents, 60% reported revenue losses, and 53% stated that their brands had been damaged as a result of the attack. For companies, the ransom payment is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg. It can have far more serious effects on their brand and business. In fact, 29% of companies surveyed said that they had been forced to do the following because of ransomware attacks:- Down-size
- Remove jobs
Who are the victims of ransomware?
You now know the damage that ransomware attacks can cause. These statistics show which industries and countries are the most targeted by ransomware.How often do ransomware attacks occur?
ReliaQuest has reported that in the second quarter of 2023, there were 1,378 ransomware victims. This represents a 64% rise from the previous quarter. In the first half of 2022, there were 236.1 million ransomware attacks around the world.Worldwide Ransomware Attacks
In 2016, the number of ransomware incidents spiked. Since then, the number of ransomware attacks has dropped and (for the most part) remained low. It is due:- Ransomware: More awareness is needed
- Government actions to stop ransomware attacks
Malware and Ransomware Targeted Sectors
Although ransomware can affect any industry, some are more vulnerable than others. The biggest reason is that certain sectors are more dependent on technology. In the Professional sector, malware and ransomware attacks are at their highest levels. Here is a full breakdown of the 15 most-targeted sectors by malware. In 2020, there were 934 confirmed ransomware and malware incidents in the Professional sector. The number of incidents in the Manufacturing sector is 3x greater, with a total of 292 incidents. Public Administration was third with 260 incidents. The Healthcare sector had 221 incidents, followed by Information with 203. Did You Know? Malware and hacking are the worst negative SEO threats you could face. Hackers are able to do subtle but damaging things that can affect your search engine.Businesses Victimised By Ransomware Attacks Worldwide
In 2021, ransomware will affect 68.5% of all businesses in the world. This was the largest percentage ever recorded and a marked increase over the last three years. The global ransomware victim rate for businesses is shown below between 2018 and 2020: Over half of the respondents (over 50%) said they were victims of ransomware attacks. This is not the most alarming ransomware statistics. The percentage of businesses successfully attacked between the start of 2018 and the end of 2020 has increased by 13.4%. In 2020 and 2021, you can see an increase of more than 6%. According to these ransomware statistics, at least two out of three businesses will be targeted by ransomware in 2018. It’s a lot.Countries Most Affected By Ransomware Attacks
Which countries have been affected by ransomware? Between January and February of 2021, on average, 37% of organizations worldwide were the victims of ransomware attacks. Ransomware attacks affected 68% of Indian organizations, making it the country most involved. Austria and the United States were next at 57% each. Over half of all organizations in these three countries are affected by ransomware. Poland was one of the least affected countries by ransomware. Only 13% of the responding organizations from Poland were victims of ransomware attacks.Is paying the ransom a good idea?
The main objective of any ransomware attack is to hold the victim hostage by refusing to release their data until a ransom has been paid. Is it a good idea, then, to pay the ransom for the hostage? Ransomware statistics reveal what organizations pay for.The Outcomes of Organisations that Paid Ransom
60% of organizations were able to regain access to their systems and data after paying the hackers. Four out of ten organizations have paid but never received their data back. You may not get your files, data, or systems back even after you pay. 6% of the organizations who made the initial payment were then asked to pay a second ransom. The majority of organizations chose to walk away from the situation and not pay. Even if you pay, there is no guarantee that you will get your data if your organization has been hacked. In reality, you have little or no control over your situation.Results for Organisations that Didn’t Pay Ransom
In a survey of global IT decision-makers conducted in 2019, 84.5% got their data back after 12 months if they were the victims of ransomware but didn’t pay. This is a very good statistic. There is a good chance that you can still recover your data for free, even though it’s not guaranteed. In the same survey, 33.1% chose to pay ransomware and failed to recover their data. This means that about 1/3 of the companies who paid for their data still lost it. It is better not to pay the hackers and have a professional recover your files. It is better to pay the hackers than to flip a coin!What can cause a ransomware infection?
To protect yourself, it is important to understand the reasons behind ransomware and to implement effective protection measures. Ransomware hackers are primarily interested in the most vulnerable. They target people and organizations that are not prepared. Ransomware is one of the leading causes of ransomware today. According to 54% of survey respondents, phishing emails are the leading cause of ransomware infections. Most ransomware attacks and cyber-security issues can be prevented by training employees to recognize phishing emails. Lack of training was ranked second at 27%. These two factors are closely related. A better security training program would improve the user’s practices in cybersecurity.What are the most common ransomware strains?
Consider ransomware as a virus strain. Ransomware is more prevalent than other types and can affect your security more. Ransomware is a type of malware that has been around for a long time. CryptoLocker is a virus that has existed since 2013. 52% of respondents reported that Cryptolocker had infected them or their clients. All ransomware strains operate similarly. They lock down or shut down a part of your computer after infecting it. The page will redirect you to the payment page where you can pay for your ransom. How can you protect yourself from these ransomware strains? Today, you need to do four things:- Install an antivirus that you can trust
- Create strong and unique passwords
- Do not open emails from people you do not trust
- Update your software regularly
