The Very Real Threat of Cyber-crime is Growing. And it could affect you
Ask anyone in the business and they will tell you that cyber crime is continuing undiminished, it is completely relentless and it is deadly and it is gaining momentum.
The problem is that it is just too rewarding for those who know how to do it and it is easy as well, with the chance of ever being brought to justice very low.
That was a recent and pretty direct warning that came from James Lewis, the director and senior fellow of the Technology and Public Policy Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Unfortunately, it is impossible to argue, because he is right.
Going back to 2017 ransomware was a serious issue with the front-runners for the worst malware including Bad Rabbit, NotPetya, ExPetr and WannaCry.
The kind of malicious software that we call ransomware is capable of taking over a computer and makes threats that it can and will carry out, to lock you out of your data. The only way to get back to your data is to pay the ransom that the cyber terrorist demands. And if you do? Well they might still not let you have it back. And there is generally nothing you can do about it. Would you even know where to turn?
At ABCIPI we see more and more clients who have fallen victim to ransomware and we see the trend increasing. In 2018 A CSIS/McAfee report backs up our concerns. When they report:
“A good estimate is that two-thirds of the people online— more than two billion individuals—have had their personal information stolen or compromised. One survey found that 64% of Americans had been victims of fraudulent charges or loss of personal information. Cyber crime is front-page news because it touches everyone.”
We have seen the devastation that a ransomware attack can wreak on a company or on an individual. Those who have fallen victim to such an attack have often lost large sums of money, business has compromised their client’s information and in all cases, the victims have been deeply traumatised.
Our cyber investigation team are very highly skilled in this area and are becoming more experienced every day, working with clients who need our help. If you think that you might be a victim or ransomware or if you want our help to try and prevent such attacks get in touch with us and let us tackle this growing threat together.