GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) — Last year was the worst year on record for ransomware attacks, and this year isn’t looking any different.
Ransomware attacks are malware attacks, typically on businesses, that lock companies out of their computer networks and force them to either pay up in cryptocurrency or lose all of their data.
“Last year, $350 million worth of cryptocurrency was given over to ransomware attackers,” said Susan Bach with the Better Business Bureau. “That was a huge increase from the year before.”
It’s believed that most ransomware attacks originate from outside of the United States and are perpetuated by organized crime groups.
Most recently over the weekend, Sinclair Broadcast Group–one of the biggest media companies in the country and the owner of Green Bay’s WLUK Fox 11–was hit by a ransomware attack.
She says the only real defense is keeping security programs updated and making sure that employees keep an eye out for suspicious emails.
“Most of the time [the ransomware] is delivered through an email attachment or a pop-up,” said Bach. “So you need to train your staff not to open emails from unfamiliar sources.”
Often, ransomware emails will look like real emails from legitimate companies and websites. Often times spelling mistakes and unusual email addresses will give away their source.
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