We’re quickly approaching 2018, and a week doesn’t go by without another variant of malware causing havoc across the globe. First it was the WannaCry ransomware worm, which infected more than 230,000 computer systems in over 150 countries, demanding ransom payments in exchange for the decryption of files. More recently, a new variant using code from the Petya ransomware (named “NotPetya”) struck first in Ukraine, followed by other European countries, and disabled critical utility services, such as the radiation monitoring system at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant, as well as affecting the countries’ banks and commuter systems.
What caught the attention of lawyers was an apparent infection in one of DLA Piper’s European offices that brought the law firm’s normal operations to a halt. As we write, the extent of the damage is still unclear.
Times have changed since CryptoLocker first ran wild in 2013, but the results are still as devastating. The costs of ransoms have significantly gone up from a few hundred dollars to the $1,000-plus range for the decryption key to unlock the affected files—and more than half of those who pay up do not receive the decryption key. So much for honor among thieves!
Ransomware has continued to evolve and is the primary security concern for businesses of all types and sizes.
How do you protect your firm from ransomware, malware and other cyberthreats? Before we get started, as we say all the time (and it rates boldface type), there is no silver bullet that protects against all ransomware. Or all malware for that matter. If a vendor promises you a 100 percent solution, you are being sold a bill of goods.
Read full article at ABA Journal