Meta Description: Cybersecurity attacks are growing in numbers in recent years. Therefore, it is wise to know some of the worst malware threats you can expect in 2021.
Technology continues to evolve and become a driving force for digital development. It has signified transformation in different industries. However, as technology becomes more advanced, so makes cybersecurity threats. As the year draws to a close, there are the worst malware threats that you can expect in the coming days. Unless you are very sure that you are adequately protected, you should not risk your online safety and secure your business from cyber threats.
Ransomware attacks double, which is attributable to the remote working community following the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the scarcity of home cybersecurity practice was the primary factor behind the spike in cyberattacks.
In the upcoming year, a ransomware attack is one of the biggest worries of any enterprise worldwide. This attack can penetrate the personal, financial, or essential information of an organization by obtaining unwanted access to its network. Once infiltrated, cybercriminals can now seek any ransom to allow back access to blocked files or systems.
Worst Malware Threats You Should Look Out For
REvil Ransomware
REvil is a form of ransomware that encrypts all files and demands money from the user as soon as it hijacks into the system. In the ransom demand, criminals are pressuring people to pay their cash by bitcoins. If the survivor does not pay the ransom within a given amount of time, the ransom rate is doubled.
It is a blocking virus that has gained prominence in the news in recent years. This form of malware triggered several of the most massive and most recent data breaches, targeting many A-listers and celebrities. In the most recent data breach in the law firm Grubman Shire Meiselas & Sacks, it was discovered that the cause was REvil ransomware.
According to reports, personal information from Drake, Robert De Niro, Rod Stewart, Elton John, Mariah Carey, and several other stars may have been stolen via this ransomware attack. In addition, screenshots of celebrities’ electronic files such as Madonna’s tour contract and files owned by Bette Midler, Bruce Springsteen, and Barbra Streisand were all leaked.
RaaS
As the world turns digital, SaaS, or Software-As-A-Service, has become an important feature. However, there is also an increasing cybersecurity industry in the underground world. RaaS or Ransomware-As-A-Service may encourage people without expertise to carry out a sophisticated ransomware attack. It does not need a skilled hacker or a team of hackers to attack them. The rise of the underground RaaS industry is alarming, as it reveals how easy it is to infect people with ransomware.
News Malware Attacks
Prevailing news stories that have caught the global community’s attention are now also being used by cybercriminals to target people. That was the case when hackers used COVID-19 to attack individuals and distribute malware.
Cybercriminals and hackers used e-mails that looked like it provide real information about the pandemic. Once received and opened, recipients would be asked to select a link to learn more about the content. However, the link includes malware that transfers data to your computer and steals your personal information.
Maze Ransomware
Maze ransomware is considered to be one of the most dangerous apps for companies in the world. This ransomware conducts its attack using vulnerability methods called Fallout and Spelvo. Moreover, this ransomware is notorious for releasing stolen confidential data publicly after stealing it using several methods. Maze ransomware encrypts all files and requests a ransom for recovery.
At the same time, it threatens to expose data if the ransom demands are not met. Cognizant, Canon, Xerox, and some healthcare companies are the most recent casualties of Maze ransomware.
Tycoon Ransomware
Tycoon is ransomware recently discovered. A lot of educational and tech companies have suffered from this malware that is written in Java. This malware compiled in ImageJ is known to be out of the ordinary because it has been added to the Java Runtime Environment update. It’s also the first time that a customized and malicious JRE compilation has been created using the Java IMAGE format.
The tycoon has demonstrated an offensive approach since it was detected six months ago. The number of victims of this assault, however, is small. It is understood that their attackers use a range of methods to keep themselves secret.
Infecting the system, Tycoon refuses entry to the administrator and then launches another attack on file servers and domain controllers.
Ryuk Ransomware
Ryuk is among the most prominent ransomware. It is a form of crypto-ransomware that blocks entry to a file, system, or computer through encryption before the ransom is paid.
This ransomware uses other malware to exploit the system. Either it uses TrickBot or other methods, such as Remote Desktop Facilities, to obtain unauthorized access to the device. It uses robust military algorithms such as RSA and AES to encrypt files using a single key for each executable. It also primarily targets corporate giants and government departments who will pay massive ransoms in exchange.
Zeus Gameover
Zeus Gameover is a member of the Zeus family of malware and viruses. This type of malware is a Trojan, a malware disguised as legitimate, that accesses your confidential bank account data and collects all your money.
The bad part of this entire type of the Zeus malware family is that it does not need a centralized “Command and Control” server to complete transactions. That is a vulnerability seen in many cyberattacks that the authorities can exploit to counter the attack. Instead, Zeus Gameover will circumvent centralized servers and set up separate servers to send confidential information.
Clop Ransomware
Clop is one of the most common and most dangerous ransomware attacks. It’s a version of the well-known CryptoMix ransomware that commonly attacks Windows users.
This ransomware blocks over 600 Windows processes and disables several Windows 10 programs. That leaves you with little hope of securing your files. Malware Threats to Expect. Clop ransomware has evolved since its introduction, now attacking whole networks and not only individual computers.
Cryptojacking
Cryptojacking malware is intended to use a person’s computer resources to help “mine” cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. Mining takes a massive amount of computational resources to produce new crypto coins, which is why hackers are seeking to install cryptojacking malware on computers and mobile devices to assist with the mining process—slowing down the user’s system considerably.
While cryptojacking attacks decreased dramatically in previous years, mainly due to a steep drop in cryptocurrencies’ valuationthis pattern remains dangerous. As cryptocurrency values begin to grow this 2020, cryptojacking ransomware attacks will continue to be profitable for cybercriminals.
Social Engineering
Humans can be the weakest connection of any security protocol. That is why cybercriminals are now turning to human psychology and manipulation to obtain access to personal information.
The hacker would begin by contacting a business or service provider and claim to be a particular individual. They will ask questions about the victim’s account and trick the customer service staff into turning over classified information bits. They would then use the information to obtain access to a person’s account and records, including payment details.
While this is not a form of malware per se, social engineering is disturbing, as it does not require hackers to know about coding or malware creation. Instead, the attacker wants to be persuasive and encourage human error and complacency to reward them with the data they need and release malware once they have access to any system.
Final Thoughts
As cybercriminals get more advanced in their attacks, companies, and organizations need to know possible threats that they might encounter. Malware Threats to Expect. As a business owner, it will you the chance to adjust your approach towards cybersecurity and data protection. You must protect all of your data, workloads, and applications to ensure that your hard work will not be compromised.
