Experts believe that this year there is a ransomware attack every 11 seconds.
According to industry predictions, almost six ransomware attacks will occur every minute in 2021. This is a major shift from one attack every 40 seconds in 2016 and one every 14 seconds in 2019.
Forbes also is showing some grim statistics: 78 percent of employees lack confidence in their company’s cybersecurity stance, according to yahoo.com.
On average, only 5 percent of companies’ folders are properly protected according to 2019 Global Data Risk Report.
Also, data breaches have long-term financial effects on hospitals, with a report noting that over 90 percent of all healthcare organizations had at least one security breach in the last several years.
The White House issued a warning recently that corporate executives and business leaders to increase cybersecurity measures to safeguard against ransomware attacks after intrusions disrupted operations at a meatpacking company and a southeastern oil pipeline.
There has been a major hike in the frequency and size of ransomware attacks, Anne Neuberger, cybersecurity adviser at the National Security Council, said in a letter.
“The threats are serious, and they are increasing. We urge you to take these critical steps to protect your organizations and the American public,” she added.
The recent cyberattacks have made companies see ransomware as a threat to core business operations and not only data theft, as ransomware attacks have moved from stealing to disrupting operations, she noted in the article.
Strengthening the country’s resilience to cyberattacks was one of President Joe Biden‘s top priorities, she added.
“The private sector also has a critical responsibility to protect against these threats. All organizations must recognize that no company is safe from being targeted by ransomware, regardless of size or location.”
The letter came once a major meatpacker resumed U.S. operations in early June after a ransomware attack that disrupted meat production in North America and Australia.
A Russia-linked hacking individual that goes by the name of REvil and Sodinokibi, was behind the cyberattack against JBS SA, Reuters reported.
President Joe Biden thinks Russian President Vladimir Putin has a “role to play” in preventing these attacks from happening.
Neuberger’s letter featured steps companies can take to boost their cyber security, according to Black Enterprise.
Some safety tips include:
- Multifactor authentication.
- Endpoint detection and response.
- Encryption and a skilled cybersecurity team.
Also, companies must back up data and regularly test systems, as well as update and patch systems quickly.
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