When a business decides to pay a ransomware demand, many believe it marks the end of the ordeal. Unfortunately, as recent research shows, it may only be the beginning.
A new article from Australian Computer Society, titled Paid a ransom? Be prepared to be hit again…and again…, reveals a disturbing pattern. Organizations, especially small and medium sized businesses, that pay a ransom are significantly more likely to be targeted again. (Source: ia.acs.org.au)
Why paying ransom can invite more attacks
The ACS article draws on a survey by the Australian Institute of Criminology, which found that many small business owners received multiple ransom demands over a 12 month span. (Source: ia.acs.org.au)
Among these victims:
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More than half received two or three ransom demands in the same period, and some received four or more
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Many of the demanded amounts were modest, which encourages attackers to repeat the attempt
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More than 22 percent of businesses that paid said they returned to normal operations afterward, but this relief was often temporary
This is not surprising. Cybercrime operates like a business, and paying ransom shows attackers you are willing to pay. That makes you an even more attractive target.
Industry studies support this. One in three ransomware victims are hit multiple times. That is a serious warning sign that businesses need a new approach to ransomware defense.
The flaws of Detect and Respond
Traditional security strategies emphasize detection and response. Monitor the network. Detect malware. Respond after damage occurs.
But the repeated attacks described in the ACS article show the limits of this approach. Detect and Respond does not deter attackers. It simply reacts after the attacker has already gained a foothold.
Relying on backups or responses after infection can get operations restored, but it does not prevent re infection. Attackers often return to the same businesses, using the same vulnerabilities.
This is a reactive posture. Reactive security means vulnerability every time.
Why isolation and containment matters
What businesses need is a proactive defense strategy that stops threats before they execute. This is where isolation and containment becomes essential.
Isolation based protection does not wait for malware to be detected. It blocks malicious activity from launching in the first place. If malware reaches an endpoint, it cannot execute, spread, encrypt files or move laterally.
Instead of treating organizations as victims waiting for the next breach, isolation puts defenders back in control. It reduces the value of ransomware campaigns and makes repeat attacks far less likely.
Why AppGuard is the right choice
Businesses that take ransomware seriously need more than antivirus software and traditional EDR tools.
AppGuard provides a proven, isolation first approach to endpoint security. It has a 10 year track record of stopping zero day attacks, advanced malware and ransomware before they can run.
AppGuard works by:
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Blocking unknown or untrusted processes from executing
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Preventing privilege escalation
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Isolating risky activity so it cannot spread
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Eliminating the need for constant signatures or updates
This is why AppGuard succeeds where Detect and Respond solutions fail. It stops the threat before it can cause harm.
The cost of ignoring isolation
Every time a business pays ransom, it signals that it is willing to pay again. The ACS research shows that this leads directly to repeat targeting.
Beyond the financial cost, multiple attacks damage reputation, disrupt operations and place enormous pressure on leadership teams.
If your security strategy relies on detecting ransomware after it hits, you are accepting unnecessary risk. There is a better way.
Learn from the research and remove your business from the target list
The ACS findings confirm what many security experts know to be true. Businesses with visible online presence are more likely to be targeted. Businesses that pay are even more likely to be targeted again.
You must treat ransomware as an ongoing threat, not a one time event. The best defense is proactive, not reactive. The best protection is isolation and containment.
If you are a business owner or executive and want to prevent this type of incident entirely, talk with us at CHIPS about how AppGuard can transform your security posture. It is time to move away from Detect and Respond and adopt isolation and containment. Your business deserves protection that stops ransomware before it starts.
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