Ransomware Payments Hit Record Highs in 2021

Ransomware payments hit file highs very last year, when linked info leaks and ransom needs also surged, in accordance to Palo Alto Networks.

The security seller compiled the stats from situations labored on by its Unit 42 security consulting business.

Its 2022 Device 42 Ransomware Danger Report published today claimed the regular ransomware payment rose 78% year-on-12 months in 2021 to get to a history $541,010. Ordinary ransom needs soared by 144% to access $2.2m.

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The prolific Conti group was dependable for most of the situations Unit 42 worked on last year, roughly a fifth of the full, adopted by REvil, Good day Kitty and Phobos.

Conti was also the most important leaker of stolen data, putting up the names of 511 companies on its dark web web page. This assisted to drive posts on title-and-disgrace web pages by 85% 12 months-on-yr in 2021, according to the report.

Conti has not too long ago been a goal in its personal right after a Ukrainian researcher leaked a trove of inner messages from the group in retaliation for its assist of the Russian government.

The leak discovered the professionalism and results of the team, which spent an estimated $6m on salaries, equipment and providers in 2021. It is organized in a rigorous hierarchy with staff set to perform in precise small business models this kind of as OSINT, QA and pen-testing.

Typical salaries of $1800 are a lot more than triple the typical in Russia, making certain a continuous stream of applicants joins the prison company.

According to Palo Alto, 35 new ransomware teams emerged in 2021, although many are considered to be rebrands of former entities. Soaring income are getting reinvested into improved attack applications and zero-day exploits, it claimed

“In 2021, ransomware attacks interfered with everyday pursuits that people all more than the environment consider for granted – every thing from purchasing groceries, acquiring gasoline for our cars to contacting 911 in the function of an unexpected emergency and getting healthcare treatment,” argued Jen Miller-Osborn, deputy director, Device 42 Menace Intelligence.

In accordance to the latest FBI info, in excess of 600 critical infrastructure companies were being compromised by ransomware final 12 months.