"Ransomware Attacks Soar 288% in First Half of 2021"

Researchers from the NCC Group have found that the number of ransomware attacks surged by 288% between the first and second quarters of 2021 as double extortion attempts grew.  The researchers claimed that nearly a quarter (22%) of data leaks came from the Conti group in the second quarter.  Conti typically gains initial network access to victim organizations via phishing emails, the researchers stated.  Next came Avaddon, which accounted for 17% of incidents, although this variant is now thought to be inactive.  Unsurprisingly, nearly half (49%) of victims with known locations in Q2 were based in the US, followed by 7% in France and 4% in Germany.  Christo Butcher, global lead for threat intelligence at NCC Group, argued that no organization in any sector is safe from ransomware today.  Christo Butcher also stated that it is crucial for organizations to be proactive about their resilience and should include proactive remediation of security issues and operating a least-privilege model.

Infosecurity reports: "Ransomware Attacks Soar 288% in First Half of 2021"