ACSC Warning Regarding Ransomware attacks. 16.06.2021

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16 June 2021

Over the past 18 months, cybercriminals have increased the number of ransomware attacks targeting Australians.

Ransomware is one of the most damaging types of cyber attacks, which can have severe and long-lasting impacts to Australian organisations and their operations.

Ransomware is a type of malicious software that makes your computer or its files unusable unless you pay a fee, often in the form of untraceable cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. It requires minimal technical expertise, is low cost and can result in significant financial harm. Recovering from ransomware is almost impossible without comprehensive backups, which is why taking steps to protect yourself is so important.

What can I do?

The ACSC has published a ransomware Prevention and Protection Guide, and Emergency Response Guide which provide step-by-step instructions on what to do.

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Are you a victim of cybercrime? Visit ReportCyber to take your next steps.

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A previous article (now gone into the forum ether???) discussed the idea that the government would make it illegal to pay a ransom - with the attendant problem that the government would be consigning many companies to oblivion, collateral damage in the war against cybercrime.

The above article discusses a more modest proposal, namely that paying a ransom would have to be disclosed. The article does not make clear whether that is: disclosed to the government, disclosed to the public, or both. Either disclosure would have some benefits.

The above article also discusses the problem of an IT monoculture (as it relates to the scale and impact of a vulnerability and hence of a ransomware attack). This is a subject dear to my heart but it seems to me that it is a lost cause.

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