Everything You Need to Know About Ransomware: The 6 Most Popular Infection Methods and Ransomware Recovery Solution   

A ransomware attack means any type of offensive action carried out by cybercriminals to target computer information systems, infrastructures, computer networks, personal computer devices, or any other electronic gadget.  They use various methods to steal, alter or encrypt data and demand ransom for its return. With time, these hackers have become more adept in their ill-work and that is why they can get access to unauthorized zones and steal your personal information including credit cards, financial information, and other confidential data effortlessly. This is why ransomware recovery has become even more difficult for the attacked businesses. 

The best way to deal with these attacks is by staying vigilant and keep upgrading your enterprise security. And to do that, you have to understand their methodologies and the way they carry out their unlawful activities. In this factsheet, you will get to know 6 of the most popular techniques used by cybercriminals to gain access to your confidential data. It is very important to have a complete understanding of these procedures if you want to protect yourself better. Read on to learn about these highly prevalent ransomware techniques. 

Phishing:  

It is one of the most common methods used by hackers to spread ransomware and according to Security Boulevard, an estimated 75% of organizations around the globe experienced some kind of phishing attack in 2020. Hackers use phishing as a sole method or in collaboration with other hacking ways to lure the user into sharing their sensitive information with the hacker or tricking him into opening an affected attachment or clicking on a malware link (containing a malicious file). Whatever the technique attacker uses, the end result will be the same. Your data will fall into the hands of attackers and he will demand ransom if you want him to return the control of your data.      

Remote Desktop Protocol:    

RDP is an increasingly popular communication protocol that allows you to connect to another computer over a network connection. It is a famous mechanism used by hackers to infect businesses. RDP typically receives connection requests through port 3389. While opening doors to a device for legitimate usage like enabling IT administrators to securely access a user’s machine remotely to configure it or to simply use the machine, it also creates an opportunity for the cybercriminals to exploit it for illegitimate use.  

Cybercriminals then use port scanners to search the Internet for devices with exposed ports. Later, they make an attempt to gain access to the machine by exploiting enterprise security loopholes or they use brute force attacks in order to crack the machine’s login credentials. They usually start off with disabling your antivirus and other security software, target loopholes in the cyber security solutions you have hired, and then begin to delete accessible backups and deploy the malware. Moreover, during all this process they usually leave a backdoor they can use in the future. 

Locker Ransomware:     

This kind of malware attack blocks basic computer functioning. For instance, in the event of an attack, you will be denied access to the desktop while the mouse or keyboard is partially disabled. They allow enough functioning to continue your interaction with them for the purpose of ransom demand and for you to make the payment. Apart from this, your computer will be inoperable. This type of ransomware is less damaging for your business as it doesn't usually target critical files and information rather it just locks you out. Complete destruction of your data is therefore is not likely to happen. 

Keylogging Using a Keylogger:  

Keylogging is another common hacking methodology used by bad actors for extracting illegal money. In keylogging, the malicious hacker installs a software called a keylogger on your system. This software is capable of recording all the keystrokes and can also store that information in a log file which the hacker then looks into for sniffing sensitive information like your username and passwords for online accounts. It is a very devastating method of hacking because it can cause identity theft and bank frauds that can ultimately lead to a huge loss.

Cookies Stealer: 

Cookies stored on your browser offer great ease to quickly access frequent sites. The main idea behind cookies is that they store your personal information including username, password, and the site information you visit for later use. Once the hacker manages to steal cookies from your browser with some sophisticated algorithms or software, he can then authenticate himself as you and log in to your online accounts like Facebook, Twitter, etc. Another noteworthy thing is that cookies theft has become very convenient as a hacker can download the software, and within few clicks, he will have all your details in front of him. 

SQL Injection Technique:  

SQL injection is another cyber activity hackers use with database-driven websites. It occurs when a cyberpunk executes an SQL query to the database via the input data from the client to the server. SQL commands are inserted into data-plane input in order to run predefined SQL commands. A successful SQL injection exploit can easily read sensitive data from the database, modify (by using queries of insert, update or delete) database data, execute administration operations (such as shutdown) on the database, recover the data from a given file, and, in some cases, issue commands to the operating system too.   

Ransomware Recovery:

Ransomware attacks have many different types and come in disparate sizes and shapes. The attack vectors are also different, some vectors like phishing links, malicious email attachments, and removable devices are associated with human error, while others such as malvertising are driven by downloads. Their effect can also vary from a minor loss to a complete disaster for any business. Mounting a good defense requires understanding the methods and techniques of the possible offense. This blog was an effort from our side to make the businesses aware of the most common hacking techniques employed by Cyberpunks.  

Besides guiding you about the basic understanding of ransomware techniques, we also want to share some measures to mitigate these cyber threats: keep your systems, software, and anti-virus databases up to date, train your employees on ransomware risks, configure your firewall to whitelist only the specific ports and hosts you need, keep your passwords strong and updated, use a least-privilege model in your IT environment, make regular backups, use cloud instead of databases, and continuously audit your IT systems for suspicious activity. If you can’t handle all these security measures, hire a reputable cyber security solutions like Best Ransomware Recovery and we will make sure you don’t have to deal with any ransomware attack.