Ransomware attacks have doubled thanks to AI
AI tools help with phishing and automating attacks, experts warn
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
The prevalence of AI tools in the public domain is contributing to a large increase inransomwareattacks, a new report has claimed.
Security firmBarracudahas found that between August 2022 and July 2023, ransomware attacks have doubled. And what has drove this surge is the breaching of networks via AI-crafted phishing campaigns, as well as automating attacks to increase reach, again using AI.
The firm claims that, despite, “the enduring success of traditional attack methods throughout 2023 and beyond, attackers will look to generative AI to craft increasingly effective attacks.”
Popular targets
Infrastructure-related industries also experienced more than twice the number of ransomware attacks compared to last year. However, municipality, education and healthcare remain the most targeted sectors.
Barracuda believes that the first two are “soft targets” as they are “resource constrained.” It also noted that some sectors are legally obligated in their countries to report cybersecurity incidents, making them more visible in the data.
A shocking number of businesses aren’t getting their data back after a ransomware attack>The 10 worst ransomware attacks ever>You’re a ransomware victim: Here’s 5 things you should do
In breaking down the year-on-year increase by sector, “attacks on municipalities increased from 12% to 21%; attacks on healthcare increased from 12% to 18%; attacks on education went up from 15% to 18%; and infrastructure went from 8% to 10%.”
Interestingly, attacks on financial institutions dropped from 6% to 1%, which Barracuda suggests is due to their possible improvements in their security posture.
Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!
Other industries also demonstrated “similar patterns of escalation over the past two years, even though the volume of publicly reported attacks is lower than the top three sectors.”
Of these other industries, software businesses were the most popular target and saw a significant increase in ransomware attacks year-on-year. Again, Barracuda posits that this is because such attacks can disrupt the supply chain, and therefore act as a launchpad for further attacks on other industries.
Manufacturing, media and retail industries have also seen an increase in ransomware attacks over the past 12 months.
Fleming Shi, CTO at Barracuda, commented that, “Recent advances in generative AI will only help ransomware gangs increase the rate of attack with more effective cyber weapons."
They added, “That’s why it’s essential for organizations to have tools in place to detect and prevent attacks, but also to be resilient and prepared to recover from an attack.”
Lewis Maddison is a Reviews Writer for TechRadar. He previously worked as a Staff Writer for our business section, TechRadar Pro, where he had experience with productivity-enhancing hardware, ranging from keyboards to standing desks. His area of expertise lies in computer peripherals and audio hardware, having spent over a decade exploring the murky depths of both PC building and music production. He also revels in picking up on the finest details and niggles that ultimately make a big difference to the user experience.
Samsung plans record-breaking 400-layer NAND chip that could be key to breaking 200TB barrier for ultra large capacity AI hyperscaler SSDs
Adobe’s decision to eliminate perpetual licensing for its Elements software has stirred controversy among consumers
Your next smartwatch could be battery-free – and powered by your skin
