What percentage of ransomware attacks are targeted vs. opportunistic?

· 1 min read
What percentage of ransomware attacks are targeted vs. opportunistic?

Ransomware attacks are becoming increasingly typical, with a vast array of services and organizations coming down with these data-encrypting malware attacks. While some ransomware attacks are highly targeted and thoroughly planned by cybercriminals, others are more opportunistic in nature. What percentage of ransomware attacks are targeted vs. opportunistic?



According to a current report from Symantec, approximately 1 in 5 ransomware attacks are targeted, while the remaining 4 out of 5 are opportunistic.  sites This implies that while a small minority of ransomware attacks are carried out against particular companies or people, the large bulk are random attacks that benefit from vulnerabilities in systems and networks.

Targeted ransomware attacks are typically far more damaging than opportunistic attacks, as they are typically brought out by more knowledgeable and sophisticated cybercriminals. Additionally, targeted attacks are often harder to safeguard versus, as they are often customized to exploit particular weak points in a target organization's systems.

While opportunistic ransomware attacks can be destructive, they are normally less pricey and disruptive than targeted attacks. Furthermore, opportunistic attacks are typically more easily spotted and prevented, as they frequently depend on recognized vulnerabilities that can be patched.

Organizations and people can assist secure themselves from both targeted and opportunistic ransomware attacks by remaining up to date on security patches, using strong security software, and supporting information frequently.