{"id":105504,"date":"2020-08-25T17:28:08","date_gmt":"2020-08-26T00:28:08","guid":{"rendered":"\/blogs\/?p=105504"},"modified":"2025-08-12T02:06:54","modified_gmt":"2025-08-12T09:06:54","slug":"ransomware-data-breach-5-tips-to-stay-secure","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/privacy-identity-protection\/ransomware-data-breach-5-tips-to-stay-secure\/","title":{"rendered":"Ransomware Could Be the New Data Breach: 5 Tips to Stay Secure"},"content":{"rendered":"

C<\/span><\/span>ybercriminals<\/span><\/span>\u00a0tend to keep with the times, as they\u00a0<\/span><\/span>often<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>leverage current events a<\/span><\/span>s a way<\/span><\/span>\u00a0to harvest user data or spread malicious content.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>McAfee COVID-19 Threat Report July 2020<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0points to a rather significant surge in attacks exploiting the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>current\u00a0<\/span><\/span>pandemic with COVID-19 themed malicious apps, phishing campaigns, malware, and ransomware.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>However, what many users don\u2019t realize is that ransomware attacks are a lot more than meets the eye.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

COVID-19\u00a0Themed\u00a0Ransomware<\/h2>\n

During the\u00a0<\/span>first few months of\u00a0<\/span>2020, the McAfee Advanced Threat Research (ATR) team\u00a0<\/span>saw that <\/span>cyber<\/span>criminals <\/span>were <\/span>targeting <\/span>manufacturing, law, and construction<\/span>\u00a0businesses<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>After\u00a0<\/span>pinpointing<\/span>\u00a0their targets, h<\/span>ackers spread\u00a0<\/span>COVID-19 themed<\/span>\u00a0ransomware campaigns to these<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>companies<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in an effort t<\/span>o<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>capitalize on their relevancy during this time<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An example of one of these\u00a0<\/span>attacks<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in action is\u00a0<\/span>Ransomware-GVZ<\/span><\/a>. Ransomware-GVZ displays a ransom note demanding payment in return for decrypting the firm’s compromised systems and the personal and corporate data they contain. The ransomware then encrypts the organization’s files and\u00a0<\/span>displays<\/span>\u00a0a lock screen if\u00a0<\/span>a<\/span>\u00a0user attempts to reboot their device. As a result, the company is left with a severely crippled network while the criminals behind the attack gain a treasure trove of data<\/span>\u00a0\u2013\u00a0<\/span>information\u00a0<\/span>belonging to consumers that have previously interacted with the\u00a0<\/span>business<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ransomware Could Be the New Data Breach<\/h2>\n

As ransomware attacks\u00a0<\/span>continue to\u00a0<\/span>evolve<\/span>, it\u2019s not just file encryption that users need\u00a0<\/span>to be aware of<\/span>\u00a0\u2013 they also need to\u00a0<\/span>be aware of<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>the impact the attack has on compromised\u00a0<\/span>data. Senior Principal Engineer and Lead Scientist\u00a0<\/span>Christiaan\u00a0<\/span>Beek<\/span>\u00a0stated<\/span><\/a>, \u201c<\/span>No longer can we call these attacks just ransomware incidents. When actors have access to the network and steal the data prior to encrypting it, threatening to leak if you don\u2019t pay, that is a data\u00a0<\/span>[infraction]<\/span>.<\/span>\u201d\u00a0<\/span>If a ransomware attack exploits an organization and their network is compromised, so is the data on that network. Hackers can\u00a0<\/span>steal this data before encrypting it and\u00a0<\/span>use this\u00a0<\/span>stolen\u00a0<\/span>information to conduct identity theft or\u00a0<\/span>spread\u00a0<\/span>other misfortune that can affect both the organization\u2019s employees and their customers.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This surge in ransomware is only compounded by traditional<\/span>\u00a0data\u00a0<\/span>infringements<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u2013<\/span>\u00a0which\u00a0<\/span>have\u00a0<\/span>also\u00a0<\/span>spiked in conjunction with the global pandemic. According to the McAfee COVID-19 Threat Report July 2020,\u00a0<\/span>the number of reported\u00a0<\/span>incidents<\/span>\u00a0targeting the public sector, individuals, education, and manufacturing dramatically increased<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>In fact, McAfee Labs counted 458 publicly disclosed security incidents\u00a0<\/span>in the\u00a0<\/span>few months of<\/span>\u00a02020, with a 60% increase in attacks from Q4 2019 to Q1 2020<\/span>\u00a0in the United States<\/span>\u00a0alone<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Coincidentally, the<\/span>\u00a0attacks targeting\u00a0<\/span>organizations also impact the consumers who\u00a0<\/span>buy from them, as the company\u2019s data consists of their customer\u2019s personal and financial information.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Don\u2019t Let Your Data Be Taken for Ransom<\/h2>\n

Because of the high volume\u00a0<\/span><\/span>of<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>data that\u2019s compromised<\/span><\/span>\u00a0by ransomware attacks, it\u2019s crucial for consumers to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>shift\u00a0<\/span><\/span>how they approach these threats and respond in a similar way that they would a data\u00a0<\/span><\/span>incident<\/span><\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Luckily<\/span><\/span>, there are actionable steps you can take as a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>consumer to help secure your data.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Change your credentials<\/h3>\n

If you discover that a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>data leak<\/span><\/span>\u00a0or a ransomware attack has compromised a company you<\/span><\/span>\u2019ve interacted with<\/span><\/span>, err on the side of caution and change your passwords for\u00a0<\/span>all of<\/span>\u00a0your accounts. Taking extra precautions can help you avoid future attacks.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Take password protection seriously<\/h3>\n

When updating your credentials, you should always ensure that your passwor<\/span><\/span>d is strong and unique. Many users utilize the same password or variations of it across all their accounts. Therefore, be sure to diversify your passcodes to ensure hackers cannot obtain access to\u202fall\u202fyour accounts at once, should one password be compromis<\/span><\/span>ed. You can also employ a\u202f<\/span><\/span>password manager<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u202fto keep track of your credentials.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Enable two-factor or multi-factor authentication<\/h3>\n

Two or multi-factor authent<\/span><\/span>ication provides an extra layer of security, as it requires multiple forms of verification. This reduces the risk of successful impersonation by hackers.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you are targeted, never pay the ransom<\/h3>\n

It\u2019s possible that you could be targeted individually\u00a0<\/span><\/span>by a ransomware campaign. If this happens, don\u2019t pay the ransom.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Although you may feel that this is the only way to get your encrypted files back, there is no guarantee that the\u202fransomware\u202fdevelopers will send a decryption tool\u00a0<\/span><\/span>once they receive the paymen<\/span><\/span>t. Paying the ransom also contributes to the development of more\u202fransomware\u202ffamilies, so it\u2019s best to hold off on making any payments.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Use a comprehensive security solution<\/h3>\n

Adding an extra layer of security with a solution such as <\/span>McAfee\u00ae Total Protection<\/span><\/a>, which includes\u00a0<\/span>Ransom Guard<\/span>, can help protect your devices from these cyberthreats.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Stay Updated<\/h2>\n

To stay updated on all things <\/span>McAfee<\/span><\/a> and for more resources on staying secure from home, follow <\/span>@McAfee_Home\u202f<\/span><\/a> on Twitter, listen to our podcast <\/span>Hackable?<\/span><\/i><\/a>,\u202f and \u2018Like\u2019 us on\u202f<\/span> Facebook.<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cybercriminals\u00a0tend to keep with the times, as they\u00a0often\u00a0leverage current events as a way\u00a0to harvest user data or spread malicious content.\u00a0McAfee…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":674,"featured_media":126674,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[10670,13],"tags":[4452,4145,32,4140,4549],"coauthors":[3973],"class_list":["post-105504","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tips-tricks","category-privacy-identity-protection","tag-cybersecurity","tag-data-breach","tag-data-protection","tag-quarterly-threats-report","tag-ransomware"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nRansomware Could Be the New Data Breach:\u00a05 Tips to Stay Secure\u00a0<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"In 2020, attacks are surging that exploit the current pandemic with COVID-19 themed malicious apps, phishing campaigns, malware, and ransomware. 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