Who is behind such a large number of cyber attacks?
Increasing efforts by law enforcement and investigators to combat the threat of online extortion operations are failing. The number of victims is growing, and new cybercrime organisations are highly motivated to achieve their malicious objectives.
According to a recent NCC Group report, last September set a record for the number of transactions involving ransomware. Thus, 514 attacks were recorded in September, 32% more than in August of this year. In addition, the number of incidents increased by up to 153% when compared to the same period in 2022.
According to NCC Group experts, the number of extortion attacks could slightly exceed 4,000 by the end of this year, but researchers are already aware of 3,500 incidents. This figure is expected to far exceed the forecasted values by the end of the year.
The following are the leaders of the most active groups participating in ransomware attacks in September 2023:
- 3.0 LockBit (79 attacks);
- LostTrust (53 assaults);
- (47); ALPHV/BlackCat
- VC Ransomed (44).
The RansomedVC group received special attention from the NCC Group. This group only became active in August 2023, and it pioneered a new approach to extortion techniques based on fabricated fake reports of GDPR fines for online vulnerabilities. RansomedVC had previously claimed responsibility for the September breach of Sony's networks.
According to the NCC Group report, the most frequently attacked sectors in September were:
- 40% of all attacks are industrial (construction, engineering, and services).
- Consumer (retail, media, and hotels) accounted for 18% of all attacks.
- The technology sector accounts for 10% of all attacks.
The increasing number of cyber extortion attacks shows that criminals are not afraid of law enforcement and are devising new ways to target businesses.
To protect themselves, businesses must prioritise cybersecurity by regularly updating software, backing up data, and training employees. Only a comprehensive approach will reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim of extortion groups.
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