--- title: "Ransomware Defense: What You NEED To Know" description: Ransomware has quickly become an extremely lucrative criminal enterprise and is one of the fastest-growing malware threats today. image: https://blog.valeonetworks.com/hubfs/Ransomware%20Defense.webp --- [Skip to the main content.](https://blog.valeonetworks.com/blog/ransomware-defense-what-you-need-to-know#main-content) [![NIT powered by VN big](https://blog.valeonetworks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/NIT%20powered%20by%20VN%20big.png?width=500&height=175&name=NIT%20powered%20by%20VN%20big.png "NIT powered by VN big")](https://nextit.valeonetworks.com) [![NIT powered by VN big](https://blog.valeonetworks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/NIT%20powered%20by%20VN%20big.png?width=500&height=175&name=NIT%20powered%20by%20VN%20big.png "NIT powered by VN big")](https://nextit.valeonetworks.com) - [Home](https://nextit.valeonetworks.com) - [Services](https://nextit.valeonetworks.com/our-services) - [Industries](https://nextit.valeonetworks.com/industries) - [Resources](https://nextit.valeonetworks.com/resources) - [Blog](https://blog.valeonetworks.com/blog) - [Case Studies](https://go.valeonetworks.com/resources-case-study) - [Testimonials](https://go.valeonetworks.com/testimonials) - [About](https://nextit.valeonetworks.com/our-story) - [Is This You](http://valeonetworks.com/is-this-you) [866-388-6398](tel:8663886398) [Client Portal](http://portal.valeonetworks.com) Toggle Menu Toggle Menu [866-388-6398](tel:8663886398) [Client Portal](http://portal.valeonetworks.com) - [Home](https://nextit.valeonetworks.com) - [Services](https://nextit.valeonetworks.com/our-services) - [Industries](https://nextit.valeonetworks.com/industries) - [Resources *Toggle Menu*](https://nextit.valeonetworks.com/resources) - [Blog](https://blog.valeonetworks.com/blog) - [Case Studies](https://go.valeonetworks.com/resources-case-study) - [Testimonials](https://go.valeonetworks.com/testimonials) - [About *Toggle Menu*](https://nextit.valeonetworks.com/our-story) - [Is This You](http://valeonetworks.com/is-this-you) [*Facebook*](https://www.facebook.com/nextittech/) [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/nextittech/) [*LinkedIn*](https://www.linkedin.com/company/nextittech/) [*Twitter*](https://twitter.com/nextit) 2 min read # Ransomware Defense: What You NEED To Know [Next I.T](https://blog.valeonetworks.com/blog/author/next-i-t) : Dec 31, 1969, 12:19:00 PM [Cybersecurity](https://blog.valeonetworks.com/blog/tag/cybersecurity) [Managed IT Services](https://blog.valeonetworks.com/blog/tag/managed-it-services) he rise of ransomware has quickly become an extremely lucrative criminal enterprise. Targeted organizations often believe that paying the ransom is the most cost-effective way to get their data back — and, unfortunately, this may be true. Ransomware is one of the fastest-growing malware threats today and is already an epidemic. According to research from [Cybersecurity](https://www.next-it.net/what-is-cyber-security/?et_fb=1&PageSpeed=off) Ventures, **a new organization will fall victim to ransomware every 14 seconds in 2019, and every 11 seconds by 2021.** Here, we will teach you about ransomware — what it is, how it’s evolving as a threat, and how it works. ## Identifying Ransomware [Ransomware](https://blog.valeonetworks.com/blog/how-do-i-protect-myself-from-ransomware-these-are-the-things-you-need-to-know) is not a new threat. The earliest known ransomware, known as PC Cyborg, was unleashed in 1989. Since that time, ransomware has evolved and become far more sophisticated. Ransomware has also become more pervasive and lucrative with developments such as the following: - **Ongoing Digital Transformation** - **The Rise Of Cryptocurrency** - **The Emergence of Ransomeware-as-a-Service (RaaS)** Cybercriminals typically sell stolen credit card and identity information on the **dark web** ![ransome](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/3504182/hubfs/ransome.jpg?width=800&height=478&name=ransome.jpg)   anonymous web content (such as black market drug sales, child pornography, cybercrime, or other activities attempting to avoid surveillance or censorship) that requires special software, configuration, and/or authorization for access — for as little as a few cents to several dollars per record. By comparison, a cybercriminal can make several hundred dollars to tens of thousands of dollars from ransoms directly paid to them by individual victims and organizations. ## Looking At Ransomware Trends Despite sensational media reports about massive data breaches targeting organizations and enterprises such as the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), Equifax, Target, Home Depot, and Capital One, **in terms of[cyberattacks](https://blog.valeonetworks.com/blog/5-ways-to-prepare), the rise of ransomware has become one of the most pervasive threats to organizations and enterprises** — as well as individuals. A report by Kaspersky suggests that 34 percent of businesses hit with ransomware took a week or more to regain access to their data. **What would you do if your organization was in the dark for a week?** ## How Ransomware Works Ransomware is commonly delivered through exploit kits, waterhole attacks (in which one or more websites that an organization frequently visits is infected with malware), malvertising (malicious advertising), or email phishing campaigns. Once delivered, ransomware typically identifies user files and data to be encrypted through some sort of an embedded file extension list. ![hacking](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hub/3504182/hubfs/hacking.jpg?width=800&height=487&name=hacking.jpg)   It’s also programmed to avoid interacting with certain system directories (such as the [WINDOWS](http://nextit-valeonetworks-com.sandbox.hs-sites.com/our-services/cloud-solutions/office-365-migration/) system directory, or certain program files directories) to ensure system stability for delivery of the ransom after the payload finishes running. Files in specific locations that match one of the listed file extensions are then encrypted. Otherwise, the file(s) are left alone. After the files have been encrypted, the ransomware typically leaves a notification for the user, with instructions on how to pay the ransom. There is no honor among thieves. Although an attacker will usually provide the decryption key for your files if you pay the ransom, there is no guarantee that the attacker hasn’t already installed other malware and exploit kits on your endpoint or other networked systems, or that they won’t steal your data for other criminal purposes or to extort more payments in the future. ### Are your systems properly protected from ransomeware? 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