Ransomware Gangs Now Use More Than Just Encryption
▼ Summary
– Ransomware groups now use diverse tactics beyond encryption, including wiping backups (37%) and installing additional malware (29%).
– Common tactics also involve infecting multiple endpoints (26%) and threatening partners, customers, or staff (16-22%).
– Only 24% of ransomware incidents involved data encryption, while 54% included data theft and leaks.
– Attackers use these tactics to pressure victims into paying by making recovery harder and consequences more severe.
– Ransomware impacts include brand damage (41%), downtime (38%), recovery costs (36%), and data loss (34%).
Ransomware gangs have evolved far beyond simple data encryption, adopting increasingly aggressive tactics to pressure victims into paying up. A recent study reveals these cybercriminals now deploy a mix of data destruction, malware deployment, and psychological intimidation to maximize their leverage.
Backup wiping emerged as one of the most common strategies, with 37% of attacks deliberately targeting recovery options to leave victims with no alternative but to negotiate. Nearly a third of incidents involved installing secondary malware, while over a quarter saw attackers spreading infections across multiple endpoints to amplify disruption.
Psychological pressure tactics are also on the rise. Over 20% of cases included threats to expose victims by notifying regulators, media outlets, or business partners. Direct intimidation of employees occurred in 16% of incidents, reinforcing the trend toward personalized coercion. Surprisingly, only 24% of ransomware cases relied solely on encryption, while 54% involved data theft, either leaked or held hostage.
The shift toward multifaceted attacks reflects a calculated strategy: making recovery impossible without payment while escalating the stakes of refusal. Earlier research supports this pattern, showing executives faced physical threats in 40% of incidents, and nearly half of attackers dangled regulatory complaints over victims’ heads.
The fallout from these attacks extends far beyond ransom demands. Organizations reported brand damage (41%), prolonged downtime (38%), steep recovery costs (36%), and irreversible loss of sensitive data (34%). With attackers weaponizing every possible pressure point, businesses must rethink defense strategies to address both technical and psychological vulnerabilities.
(Source: InfoSecurity Magazine)
