Report: Ransomware Biggest Cybersecurity Threat So Far in 2021

  • Oct 04, 2021

Ransomware remained the standout threat in the first half of the year as cyber criminals continued to target big-name victims. Working with third parties to gain access to targeted networks, they used Advanced Persistent Threat tools and techniques to steal and encrypt victims' data. That's according to a recent report from Trend Micro.

The banking industry was disproportionately affected, experiencing a 1,318% year-on-year increase in ransomware attacks in the first half of 2021.

Ransomware was a major threat to global organizations in the first half of 2021, but it was not the only one. Trend Micro's report also reveals:

  • Business email compromise (BEC) attacks increased by 4%, potentially as a result of new COVID-19 opportunities for threat actors.
  • Cryptocurrency miners became the most detected malware, having surged ahead of WannaCry and web shells in recent months.
  • The Zero Day Initiative detected 770 vulnerabilities, a slight (2%) drop from 1H 2020.
  • A total of 164 malicious apps related to COVID-19 scams were detected, 54% of which impersonated TikTok.

"The first step towards effectively mitigating cyber risk is understanding the scale, complexity, and specific characteristics of the threat landscape," said Jon Clay, vice president of threat intelligence for Trend Micro. "In addition to comprehensive protection against fast-evolving threats like ransomware, phishing and BEC that Trend Micro offers, our biannual roundup reports provide global organizations and stakeholders invaluable insights to help them build a more secure connected world."

The report's overall findings highlight the effectiveness of – and increasing need for – a holistic and scalable cybersecurity solution at the enterprise level. As threats continue to increase in frequency and sophistication, enterprise SOC teams will require a platform that can streamline security processes without sacrificing reliability.

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