comments - University hit 21 times in one year by ransomware
August 2016 by David Kennerley, director of threat research at Webroot
Following today’s news that Bournemouth University has been hit with 21 ransomware attacks in the last 12 months, please find the below comment from David Kennerley, Director of Threat Research at Webroot:
“The ransomware criminal business model has achieved a lot success because often the cost of decrypting the files by ransom is seen as more cost effective and less time consuming than restoring from a backup, if indeed backups exist. This is especially the case in organisations like universities and NHS trusts whose operations rely on critical data.
Organisations should be aware of this type of threat, and understand that they must protect their infrastructure and data by using threat intelligence and backup solutions alongside regular user training and education.
Ransomware is a crime, and victims should report it to the relevant authorities as they would a robbery. It is also not guaranteed that the attacker will restore the affected files, while paying any ransom only highlights the poor security posture of the affected organisation and encourages further attacks.”