According to Cybereason survey, businesses are much more vulnerable to Ransomware attacks on weekends and holidays.
The lack of preparedness has a significant impact on security teams’ capabilities. Over the weekend and holiday times, for example, more than two-fifths (43%) of respondents said they needed more time to mount an effective response, and nearly a third (31 percent) said they needed more time to fully recover from an attack. This is despite the fact that 89% say they are afraid about attacks occurring during these times.
Another concerning statistic in the report is that 71% of security experts admitted to being intoxicated while reacting to a Ransomware attack on a weekend or holiday. Moreover, nearly 9 out of 10 people (91%) reported missing a holiday or weekend activity as a result of a Ransomware attack.
Despite the fact that there is a significant amount of awareness about these types of attacks, the research goes on to provide some insight into whether or not businesses are prepared:
- 36% of firms that have faced a Ransomware attack, they do not have a particular response plan in place.
- Despite having experienced an attack, 24 percent of businesses report they still do not have a response plan in place.
How dangerous is it?
Ransomware can take time to spread throughout a network as hackers seek to increase privileges in order to get maximum control over the most systems. The longer it takes for someone to realise, the more damage they can cause. In general, threat actors release Ransomware when there are fewer people available to pull plugs.
Holidays are not a break for Ransomware attackers. In this year, the most disruptive Ransomware attacks happened on weekends and big holidays, when attackers realize they have an advantage over targeted businesses.
This confirms that businesses are not fully prepared and must take additional steps to ensure they have the right people, procedures, and technologies in place to effectively respond to Ransomware attacks and secure their important assets.
How to avoid being attacked
Preparation for possible virus attacks works like a vaccine. The point isn’t to plan for protection the day before a holiday; chances are, the malware is already installed on your device, ready to strike during your holiday period. Instead, you must establish a virus defence strategy long before the Ransomware attacks
- Avoid clicking on any suspicious links.
- Create a backup of your data that is not accessible online.
- To make your user accounts secure, use strong passwords.
- Check whether your software is up to date, and scan it for vulnerabilities.
- Make use of two-factor authentication.
- If you use Remote Desktop Protocol or other well-known risky servers — proceed with caution.
Remember even over the holidays don’t forget to check your computer. Remember, holidays, though preferred, aren’t the only time for Ransomware attacks. As a result, keep your digital life as safe and secure as your personal life!