The fight against crypto scams in 2022 was very strong, to reduce the number of dollars extorted from the victims.
Ransomware extorted $456.8 million in 2022, down from $756.6 million in 2021. The number is still very high, there is still a lot of work to be done to thwart cyberattacks.
Ransomware is a computer program that can infect any digital device and then demand a ransom payment to unlock the device. Usually, an automatic window will appear on the locked device. The user has a few days or a few hours to pay the ransom, otherwise, the content block will become permanent.
There are two types of ransomware: cryptors (which encrypt files on the device making them inaccessible), and blockers (which block access to the infected device).
In several cases, ransomware can be installed remotely, it spreads mainly through forms of communications received via email, text messages, or messaging systems.
There are several ways to get rid of ransomware, but what is usually recommended is to contact specialized technicians who can unlock the device.
Scam System Shrinking
Ransomware strains have popped up everywhere in the past few years, making users aware of the fact that the world of ransomware scams is indeed very crowded. This leads to a lot of competition in that sector as well. Industry analysts have understood many strains of ransomware, which overlap with each other.
It was also noted that various lawsuits led to the understanding that in 2022 many victims refused to pay, leading to a decline in profits for cybercriminals. Top scam revenue dropped by around 40% between 2021 and 2022.
The sums are really exorbitant: in 2021, the income from these scams was $765.6 million, while in 2022 they dropped to $456.8 million.
How to Prevent Any Cyber Attack?
It is still hard to come up with a final protection method, which will kill ransomware and make browsing safer. However, there are recommended practices to avoid falling for certain attacks.
First of all, there must be a strict control of what enters one’s devices, so as to avoid, or better, control malware entry.
Therefore, it is advisable to reject any received attachment, except the expected ones, in order not to be surprised once opened.
Another tip is to avoid sites of questionable quality, mostly illegal download sites, as well as the dark web or torrent files, as it is not certain what you are downloading or looking for.
Prevention processes are a whole that creates the so-called digital hygiene, which helps a lot against ransomware, and is the flagship strategic tool of digitization and innovation.
The good news is that the attacks are declining a lot over time, if this trend continues, they will drop further in 2023, as digital hygiene techniques are expected to increase even more.
By Audy Castaneda
