Ransomware remained a primary threat in the first half of the 2021 as cybercriminals continued to target big-name victims, according to the most recent industry reports. Working with third parties to gain access to targeted networks, cybercriminals used Advanced Persistent Threat tools and techniques to steal and encrypt victims’ data.
The banking industry was disproportionately affected, experiencing a 1,318% year-on-year increase in ransomware attacks in the first half of 2021.
But ransomware was not the only major threat to global organizations in early 2021. The latest reports also reveal:
- Business email compromise (BEC) attacks increased by 4%, potentially as a result of new COVID-19 opportunities for threat actors.
- Cryptocurrency miners became the most detected malware, having surged ahead of WannaCry and web shells in recent months.
- The Zero Day Initiative detected 770 vulnerabilities, a slight (2%) drop from 1H 2020.
- A total of 164 malicious apps related to COVID-19 scams were detected, 54% of which impersonated TikTok.