SonicWall recently released their mid-year 2022 Cyber Threat Report.
According to their report, ransomware attacks as a whole have decreased through the first half of the year by 23%, while healthcare specific ransomware attacks have actually increased a shocking 328%.
Ransomware is a form of malware that encrypts data or locks up systems until the victim pays a ransom.
The Security Awareness Company
Key Takeaways from the Report Related to Ransomware
- The overall decrease reported by SonicWall this quarter is unique for two reasons: this is the fourth consecutive quarter of decrease; and the first time in four years that there wasn’t a documented increase in ransomware volume from Q1 to Q2.
- The amount of ransomware witnessed in the first half of 2022 is already more than the full-year totals for 2017, 2018 and 2019.
- The United States sees more ransomware attempts than any other country in the world.
- Despite overall decreases in ransomware volumes, the finance and healthcare industries saw the largest increases in ransomware attacks.
Stay Protected
IT teams work diligently round the clock to protect their organizations from ransomware and other cyber threats—but it’s not just up to them. Here are four easy to remember tips to help you avoid falling victim to a ransomware attack.
- Avoid Suspicious Emails—any email with a link or attachment that you are not expecting should be viewed with extreme caution.
- Keep Software Up-to-Date—this includes your Operating System, apps and especially anti-virus software.
- Be Aware—anything—a USB drive, a sketchy phone call—can be a hacker.
- Use Strong Passwords—you can learn more about password strength and secure storage here.
Other Resources
The Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) provides a library of information regarding ransomware and other cyber security threats.
CISA hosts Cybersecurity Awareness Month each year in October.
