Ransomware attackers are getting bolder and smarter—and their latest tactic should serve as a serious wake-up call for business owners.
According to a recent Forbes article by Davey Winder, ransomware gangs are now using brute-force techniques to compromise VPNs and firewalls, allowing them to bypass perimeter defenses and gain deep access to corporate networks.
This marks a significant escalation in cyberattack tactics. VPNs and firewalls—once considered cornerstones of network protection—are now being actively exploited using automation and leaked credentials. The attackers aren’t bothering to wait for a user to click a malicious link or open a fake invoice. Instead, they’re pounding the digital front door until it breaks open.
The implications are clear: if you're still relying on traditional cybersecurity defenses and a “Detect and Respond” mindset, you are falling behind.
For years, ransomware was primarily distributed through phishing emails or malicious downloads. Today, that’s just one of many vectors. As Winder’s article highlights, sophisticated attackers are now targeting the very infrastructure businesses use to connect their employees and manage remote access—VPNs and firewalls.
Once inside, these attackers deploy ransomware across the network, often remaining undetected for weeks or even months. By the time an alert is triggered, the damage is already done: systems are encrypted, backups are compromised, and recovery costs are spiraling.
This “brute-force everything” approach is a reflection of how well-funded and determined ransomware gangs have become. They're treating your network like a safe to be cracked—and the old combination no longer works.
The traditional cybersecurity model is based on the idea that you can detect threats as they occur and respond in time to stop them. But as threat actors evolve, this approach is proving inadequate:
Detection delays: Most threat detection tools only act after malicious behavior has already begun.
Alert fatigue: IT teams are bombarded with false positives, often missing real threats.
Post-breach response: By the time a response is initiated, critical data may already be exfiltrated or encrypted.
In short, “Detect and Respond” is reactive. Today’s cyber threats demand proactive prevention.
That’s where AppGuard comes in. AppGuard is a proven endpoint protection solution with a 10-year track record of preventing cyber incidents—not just detecting them after the fact. It doesn’t rely on signatures, known threats, or behavioral analysis. Instead, it operates on a different philosophy: Isolation and Containment.
AppGuard stops malware and ransomware by preventing applications from performing unauthorized actions—even if they are compromised. That means:
Malware can’t execute—even if it’s never been seen before.
Ransomware can’t encrypt files—even if it breaches the firewall.
Attackers can’t pivot across endpoints—even if they gain initial access.
It’s a fundamentally different approach that’s tailor-made for the threats described in Forbes’ report. Instead of trying to play catch-up with evolving ransomware techniques, AppGuard ensures that threats are contained before they can cause harm.
The landscape has changed. Cybercriminals are no longer knocking—they're breaking down doors with brute-force attacks on your VPNs and firewalls. If your business is still relying on detection-based tools and hoping for the best, it’s time to change course.
It’s time to shift from “Detect and Respond” to “Isolation and Containment.”
At CHIPS, we’re helping business owners get ahead of threats by adopting AppGuard. This proven solution stops ransomware before it starts—no alerts, no triage, just true prevention.
Don’t wait for an incident to act. Talk with us today about how AppGuard can protect your business from the next generation of ransomware attacks.
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