Cyber attacks not only cause companies headaches, but are also increasingly developing into a business model from the point of view of the attackers. That’s the gist of a study released this week by Japanese software and services provider Trend Micro.
According to this, every payment following an attack with malware finances nine future attacks. Those companies that paid the ransom usually acted quickly. As a result, they are often forced to accept higher demands for each further attack.
In principle, however, it should be noted that nine out of ten companies did not pay any ransom following cyber attacks, according to the study. According to experts, paying the ransom often only increases the overall cost of an incident without bringing any benefits.
Fewer attacks in summer
Attacks have happened across all sectors of the economy, with the most common in the finance, construction and IT sectors. According to a recent study, automotive suppliers are also often targeted by criminals on the Internet. The risk level for attacks varies by region, industry and company size.
According to the study, cybercriminals are least active in January and in the summer months of July and August. These are good times for companies to rebuild their infrastructure and prepare for future threats. Experts advise that decision-makers should prioritize protection in the early stages of an attack and thoroughly analyze malware ecosystems. “Ransomware is constantly evolving, which is why we need more accurate data-driven methods for modeling risk,” said Richard Werner, consultant at Trend Micro.
Author
Martin Roithner
Editor Economics
Martin Roithner
