Ransomware Roulette: Why Hackers Love Targeting Middle-Tech Mayhem!
Ransomware attacks are shifting focus to in-between systems, nestled between IT and operational technology, creating chaos without heavy lifting. As digital miscreants target these no man’s lands, boardrooms face a dilemma: pay ransom or risk mayhem. The ransomware race heats up, and the stakes are higher than ever.
Hot Take:
In the wild and wacky world of cybercrime, it seems like the bad guys have discovered the secret sauce of chaos: targeting the systems that sit between IT and operational tech. It’s like they’ve found the Bermuda Triangle of the digital world, where systems go to get befuddled, and hackers rub their hands with glee. Who knew that the middle child of tech could be so important?
Key Points:
– Cybercriminals are now targeting the systems between IT and operational technology (OT), which are crucial in critical infrastructure.
– Attacks on these “in-between” systems can have more severe consequences than traditional IT or OT systems, leading companies to pay ransoms more readily.
– Two of the top five most dangerous new attack techniques identified by SANS Institute involve ransomware and destructive cyber-attacks on critical infrastructure.
– Nation-state actors like Russia, China, and Iran are also launching destructive ICS attacks, further complicating the cybersecurity landscape.
– The approach to defending critical networks must shift from quick restoration to early detection of adversary manipulation.