https://www.channelfutures.com/wp-content/themes/channelfutures_child/assets/images/logo/footer-new-logo.png
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud
    • Data Centers
    • Desktop
    • IoT
    • Mobility
    • Networking
    • Open Source
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Virtualization
    • Voice/Connectivity
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Best Practices
    • Business Models
    • Channel 101
    • Channel Programs
    • Channel Research
    • Digital Transformation
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Specialty Practices
  • MSSP Insider
    • Back
    • Business of Security
    • Cloud and Edge
    • Endpoint
    • Network
    • People and Careers
    • Training and Policies
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Our Sponsors
    • From the Industry
    • Content Resources
    • COVID-19 Partner Help
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EMEA
  • Awards
    • Back
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • 2020 MSP 501
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Partners Evolution
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
  • Channel Mentor
    • Back
    • Channel Market Intelligence
    • Channel Educational Series
Channel Futures
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Technologies
    • Back
    • Analytics
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Cloud
    • Data Centers
    • Desktop
    • IoT
    • Mobility
    • Networking
    • Open Source
    • RMM/PSA
    • Security
    • Virtualization
    • Voice/Connectivity
  • Strategy
    • Back
    • Best Practices
    • Business Models
    • Channel 101
    • Channel Programs
    • Channel Research
    • Digital Transformation
    • Diversity & Inclusion
    • Leadership
    • Mergers and Acquisitions
    • Sales & Marketing
    • Specialty Practices
  • MSSP Insider
    • Back
    • Business of Security
    • Cloud and Edge
    • Endpoint
    • Network
    • People and Careers
    • Training and Policies
  • MSP 501
    • Back
    • 2020 MSP 501 Rankings
    • 2020 Hot 101 Rankings
    • 2020 MSP 501 Report
  • Intelligence
    • Back
    • Our Sponsors
    • From the Industry
    • Content Resources
    • COVID-19 Partner Help
    • Galleries
    • Podcasts
    • Reports
    • Videos
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
  • EMEA
  • Awards
    • Back
    • Excellence in Digital Services
    • 2020 MSP 501
    • Top Gun 51
  • Events
    • Back
    • CP Conference & Expo
    • Channel Partners Evolution
    • Channel Evolution Europe
    • Channel Partners Event Coverage
    • Webinars
  • Channel Mentor
    • Back
    • Channel Market Intelligence
    • Channel Educational Series
    • Newsletter
  • REGISTER
  • MSPs
  • VARs / SIs
  • Digital Service Providers
  • Cloud Service Providers
  • CHANNEL PARTNERS ONLINE
 Channel Futures

MSSP Insider


Shutterstock

Ransomware Desktop

How Ransomware Is Accelerating in the COVID-19 Era

  • Written by Ayesha Prakash
  • February 5, 2021
Focus on cybersecurity to stop hackers from preying on people's fear of the coronavirus.

… businesses have been going through the same thing.

Though corporate hacks tend not to put people in physical danger, their costs can be truly staggering. When Energias de Portugal was hit in April, its attackers demanded 9.9 million euros in ransom. For Telecom Argentina, in July, the price tag was $7.5 million. In October, German giant Software AG was held for $20 million. After negotiations failed, the hackers published financial documents, employee emails, ID scans and even employee passports to the dark web.

It’s spooky stories like these that motivate so many organizations to just pay up. In June, the city of Florence, Alabama, coughed up $250,000 dollars to its hackers. That same month, the University of California at San Francisco was hit. Because some of its encrypted data included important COVID-19 research, the university ceded, paying out an ungodly $1.14 million. (UCSF, of course, is largely supported by taxpayer funding. So, really, Californians paid $1.14 million to hackers.)

Why Ransomware, Why Now?

There are plenty of reasons why this pandemic has been so conducive to ransomware. We’re also on our devices more than we used to be. We’re using less-secure devices — personal computers over home networks instead of work computers over guarded corporate networks. And we’re using these devices to connect with others more often, introducing more attack paths for malware to spread. But these factors make us easy targets regardless of what attack vector hackers choose.

What makes ransomware, in particular, appealing during this pandemic is that we’ve become more reliant on our computers. Think of any company right now, and you’ll get the picture. All our business — all communications, all business functions — is currently being done over computer networks, so the potential cost of a shutdown is higher than ever. Where a ransomware attack in an office setting is a big deal, a ransomware attack in a remote work environment is game over. Similarly, although hospitals aren’t working remotely, they are more reliant than ever on their IT systems, with more patients needing more urgent attention at all hours of the day.

Actually, there’s an even more insidious reason criminals love COVID. It scares us.

Imagine being in Italy in March. The novel coronavirus has now spread to Europe, and your country is getting hit the hardest. People are dying in vastly overcrowded hospitals. Nurses must literally turn infected people away at the front door, and doctors are deciding who gets ventilators and who will die.

Amid all this, you receive an email:

Ransomware Phish Email Example

Courtesy: Diriga Technologies

Dear Sir / Madam,

Due to the fact that cases of coronavirus infection are documented in your area, the World Health Organization has prepared a document that includes all necessary precautions against coronavirus infection. We strongly recommend that you read the document attached to this message!

With best regards,

Dr. Penelope Marchetti (World Health Organization – Italy)

We knew so, so little about …

  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
Tags: MSPs VARs/SIs Business of Security EMEA Endpoint MSSP Insider

Related


  • Cloud storage icon
    Why Cloud Storage Protection Is a Top Opportunity for MSPs
    An MSP's security know-how can boost SMBs' cloud storage security.
  • VDI
    TA Associates to Acquire Virtual Desktop OS Provider IGEL
    Microsoft and HP veteran Bill Veghte will become IGEL’s executive chairman.
  • Cloud security
    IT Facing Major Security Issues, But Cloud Security May Be Most Immense
    A number of reports point to security problems within client environments, but cloud could be the biggest.
  • Threats
    Despite SIEM Software Adoption, Threat Coverage Comes Up Short
    Enterprise SIEMs are unprepared for 84% of certain tactics and techniques.

Leave a comment Cancel reply

-or-

Log in with your Channel Futures account

Alternatively, post a comment by completing the form below:

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Content

  • Cowbell Cyber Debuts Partner Program to Manage Cyber Risk
  • Mimecast Layoffs Impact 4% of Workforce as COVID-19 Hinders Growth
  • EMC, Cisco Vet Named SoftIron Channel Chief
  • Dell Partners Get New 2021 Program, More Access to VMware

Galleries

View all

Threat Protection Vendors: Why MSSPs Have to Ramp Up Efforts Right Now

February 23, 2021

Industry Perspectives

View all

Three Ways MSPs Can Improve Supply Chain Security

February 24, 2021

SASE: The Key to Mitigating Business Transformation Risk

February 22, 2021

Public Sector IT Funding Outlook for 2021–and What It Means for Our Reseller Partners

February 18, 2021

Webinars

View all

XDR and Why it Matters to MSPs

March 24, 2021

Top Security Trends Impacting Technology Security Providers In 2021

March 25, 2021

In Case of Emergency: The Importance of Proactive Critical Event Management

February 23, 2021
  • 1

White Papers

View all

Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response Optimum

February 19, 2021

Product Brief: Kaseya VSA Integrated Workflows with BMS and IT Glue

January 26, 2021

Why Subscription Business Model

January 15, 2021

Upcoming Events

View all

Channel Partners Virtual

March 2, 2021 - March 4, 2021

Channel Partners Conference & Expo

November 1, 2021 - November 4, 2021

Videos and Fastchats

View all

FASTCHAT: How SOAR Eliminates Security Challenges and Elevates Service Provider Revenues

January 6, 2021

Happy Holidays from Channel Partners & Channel Futures!

December 21, 2020

FASTCHAT: How Old, Unpatched Technologies Are Creating New Security Threats for MSPs and Their Customers

December 3, 2020

Twitter

ChannelFutures

.@BlackBerry report shows rise in hacker-for-hire groups targeting #MSSPs. dlvr.it/RtQjD9 https://t.co/VYr5cEXCCm

February 25, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@PTsecurity_UK discovers #vulnerabilities in @VMware vCenter server. dlvr.it/RtQjD5 https://t.co/WQbn5SJdFL

February 25, 2021
ChannelFutures

Take #supplychainsecurity to the next level. @Sophos #MSP #MSSP #ransomware #cybersecurity #managedservice… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

February 25, 2021
ChannelFutures

[email protected]_inc rolls out first partner program. #securityanalytics dlvr.it/RtQhlW https://t.co/c1Xhxaf3qr

February 25, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@AteraCloud receives $25 million investment to help more #MSPs, IT pros. dlvr.it/RtPbBG https://t.co/UxHqhrUKgx

February 24, 2021
ChannelFutures

.@Infoblox rolls out new #Cloud Specialization program to increase partners' #SaaS sales. dlvr.it/RtPb7f https://t.co/CmZTwYiv1u

February 24, 2021
ChannelFutures

RT @Channel_Expo: ⏱️ Time is ticking to save on your pass to #CPVirtual next week...View all pass options and secure your virtual seat by F…

February 24, 2021
ChannelFutures

The new @Commvault #EMEA channel exec will focus attention on alliances, cloud and simplifying and expanding partne… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

February 24, 2021

MSSP Insider

Newsletters and Updates

Sign up for The Channel Report, Channel Futures Update, MSP 501 Newsletter and more.

Live Channel Events

Get the latest information on the next industry-leading Channel Partners event.

Channel Partners Online

Want more? Find more channel news and analysis on our sister site, Channel Partners.

Media Kit And Advertising

Want to reach our audience? Access our media kit

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • Channel Partners Online
  • Channel Partners Events
  • MSP 501
  • MSSP Insider
  • IoT World Today
  • Webhostingtalk

WORKING WITH US

  • Contact
  • About us
  • Advertise
  • Newsletter

FOLLOW Channel Futures ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2021 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X