Cyber Security and Information Systems Information Analysis Center
Ransomware is computer malware that installs covertly on a victim's device and that either mounts the cryptoviral extortion attack from cryptovirology that holds the victim's data hostage, or mounts a cryptovirology leakware attack that threatens to publish the victim's data, until a ransom is paid. Simple ransomware may lock the system in a way which is not difficult for a knowledgeable person to reverse, and display a message requesting payment to unlock it. More advanced malware encrypts the victim's files, making them inaccessible, and demands a ransom payment to decrypt them. The ransomware may also encrypt the computer's Master File Table or the entire hard drive. Thus, ransomware is a denial-of-access attack that prevents computer users from accessing files since it is intractable to decrypt the files without the decryption key. Ransomware attacks are typically carried out using a Trojan that has a payload disguised as a legitimate file.
HOUSTON - At the public library in Wilmer, Tex., books were checked out not with the beeps of bar code readers but with the scratches of pen on notebook paper. Out on the street, police officers were literally writing tickets - by hand. When the entire computer network that keeps the small town's bureaucracy afloat was recently hacked, Wilmer was thrown into Read More
Even when public agencies and companies hit by ransomware could recover their files on their own, insurers prefer to pay the ransom. Why? The attacks are good for business. Read More
Ransomware has become a major threat to computer systems in recent years, as high-profile attacks have locked users out of personal computers, hospitals, city governments, and even The Weather Channel. Now, security researchers have discovered that another device that might be at risk: a DSLR camera. Read More
The latest changes to the Satan ransomware framework demonstrate attackers are changing their operations while targeting victims more carefully. Read More
Hackers are shifting their tactics away from traditional phishing and ransomware attacks, and moving toward stealthier intrusions via websites and the software supply chain, according to a recent report. Read More
Ransomware distributors have started to target managed service providers (MSPs) in order to mass-infect all of their clients in a single attack. Recent reports indicate that multiple MSPs have been hacked recently, which has led to hundreds, if not thousands, of clients being infected with the GandCrab Ransomware. Read More
Introduction Malvertising is a malicious form of online advertisement used to inject malware into legitimate online advertising networks and webpages. Advertisements are produced with significant effort to attract users and sell or advertise a product, which makes for a prime platform for spreading malware. Malvertising can exist even on the most popular Read More
This podcast is a breakdown episode where the CSIAC discusses current topics in further depth. CSIAC tries to breakdown the complexity of the topic. Malvertising is a malicious form of online advertisement used to inject malware into legitimate online advertising networks and webpages. Advertisements are produced with significant effort to attract users Read More
The name ONI, can mean "devil" in Japanese, and it also appears in the email address found in its ransom note. Attacks observed by Cybereason suggest that the malware lives up to its name. Aside from encrypting files on the infected machines, ONI can encrypt files on removable media and network drives - and there's evidence that the true purpose of the Read More
In recent years, a few specific threats have caused significant damage to targeted victims. Ransomware continues to plague numerous industries. Having up-to-date systems and backups are crucial in the defense against ransomware. Insider Threats also cause significant damage to unsuspecting organizations. Monitoring for unusual activity and Read More
