Cybersecurity

United States: Cybersecurity 2017 – The Year In Preview: Emerging Security Threats

Ransomware, a form of malicious software that infiltrates computer networks or systems and encrypts data or denies access until a ransom has been paid, has been the fastest-growing cybersecurity threat during 2016.  According to the federal government, an average of more than 4,000 ransomware attacks per day occurred since the beginning of the year.  Ransomware attacks have particularly targeted the health care sector, with several hospitals seeing their networks attacked over the course of 2016.  Ransomware is delivered in a variety of ways, notably through phishing emails.

Ransomware attacks are not expected to abate in 2017.  Indeed, some are estimating as much as a tenfold increase in ransomware attacks next year.  One major concern is that the ransom amounts requested could increase dramatically as cybercriminals better understand the value of the data they are holding hostage.  Some also predict an increase in denial of service (DoS) attacks, instead of encryption, to extort victims.