We expect this trend to continue, but also anticipate a resurgence of ransomware targeting consumers, with cybercriminals adopting some of the techniques used to attack businesses, like using multiple layers of extortion, such as data exfiltration followed by doxing. In terms of ransomware attacks against consumers, Jakub Kroustek, Avast Malware Research Director, says “Two years ago, the most successful ransomware gangs began shifting their focus from spray and pray-like attacks on consumers to focusing on targeted attacks on businesses. Furthermore, attacks are expected to be carried out by company insiders. The Conti ransom gang recently threatened to sell access to the hacked organization in addition to selling or publishing files if a company refuses to pay. In order to better target businesses, the researchers believe cybercriminals offering ransomware as a service (RaaS) will improve affiliate models, including adding ransomware designed for Linux, better payouts, and building upon extortion layers. Avast researchers predict the global ransomware crisis to deepen in 2022, with further attacks on critical infrastructure, such as aviation. This year, vital businesses such as the Colonial Pipeline, JBS, one of America’s largest beef producers, and Swedish supermarket chain, Coop, were affected by ransomware.

Ransomware gangs will step up their game in an attempt to keep up momentumįinCEN, the US’s Financial Enforcement Network, reported the total value of suspicious activity related to ransomware in the first half of 2021 was 30% higher than the amount filed for all of 2020. Attacks abusing companies with work from home policies in place are also anticipated. Prague, Czech Republic, DecemCybersecurity experts from Avast(LSE:AVST), a global leader in digital security and privacy, foresee cybercriminals making advancements to ensure the effectiveness of ransomware, a continuation of cryptocurrency scams, heists, and crypto-mining malware.

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