Cybersecurity experts warn of ransomware attacks targeting small businesses
April 18, 2022 – Published on Fox59 Indianapolis
Ransomware attacks are on the rise, according to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. The latest numbers show increases across the board from the number of incidents to the amount of money bad actors are demanding to the number of reports made.
Unfortunately, cybersecurity experts say small businesses are being increasingly targeted.
Ransomware is when hackers find a way into an employer’s online system and demand money in order to give their information back.
“Basically, they are threatening if you don’t pay they will release data that they have of yours out to the public,” said Gary Brickhouse, chief information security officer with GuidePoint Security.
The FBI’s latest information shows the number of incidents went up 20% in 2020 compared to 2019, but the average amount of money demanded per incident went up about 225%.
“At the end of the day, you have these cybercriminals who want money, and the best way to get that from companies is to gain access to their data files,” Brickhouse explained.
“We need to understand what the attack is, contain it and make sure it doesn’t get worse, and how do we restore our business,” Brickhouse explained. “Data backup, making sure that you have good data backup. You know how to restore that data and ultimately that you have good communication with your business itself, and if there are customers involved, how do we communicate with them at this time as we’re trying to get this back up and running?”
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