Kaspersky’s latest report finds that 45% of employees do not know how to respond to ransomware attacks

According to a new Kaspersky study, employees of companies of all sizes and in all industries are unfamiliar with the increasingly well-known cyber threats, ransomware. In fact, 45% of business leaders in North America said they would not know the correct steps to respond to a ransomware attack at work.

Kaspersky researchers say the ransomware affects around 900,000 to almost 1.2 million users every six months, with an average ransom of $ 1,032,460. Given these incredible numbers, Kaspersky was trying to understand why these attacks are becoming more common in commercial settings.

When asked if they could define ransomware, 37% of respondents were unable to define exactly the term used when a computer system is kept as a ransom, restricts access to files, and requests ransomware ransom. to overcome the restriction. repeal Given the lack of awareness of this attack vector, it is clear why cyber attacks are more sensitive to this strategy, as they can be more easily and successfully targeted at a larger community of users with lucrative and accessible means.

Among those who had previously experienced a ransomware attack, 40% said they would also not know what immediate action to take in response to a ransomware attack, due to their constant lack of concern and awareness about it. financially devastating cyberattack. Additionally, 30% of those who experienced a ransomware attack responded appropriately that disconnecting a computer from the Internet was the best first step in stopping an attack.

Because corporate employees are unfamiliar with ransomware and its effects, when asked who was responsible for fighting these attacks, 68% of respondents thought they had the majority of IT security teams. Adequate security protection to protect against ransomware attacks should be held responsible for the protection of employees’ personal information. Another breakdown of this question showed that men with 10% of surveyed men were more confident than 7% of women who answered that they had full confidence in the security of private information and managed to stop a ransomware attack.

Unlike other types of cyber attacks, ransomware promises to guarantee that victims will regain access to their computers, private files, and information if they pay a financial attack. This could lead employees to believe that simply paying a ransom will normalize their IT infrastructure. However, Kaspersky experts never recommend paying a ransom. This advice is in line with the opinion of corporate employees to pay a ransom, as the overwhelming response concluded that just over 67% of respondents in North America were unwilling to pay money. money to recover personal digital files or devices they owned. they would no longer be able to access it if they were the victims of a ransomware attack.

About Kaspersky

Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity company founded in 1997. Kaspersky’s extensive intelligence and threat security expertise is transformed into innovative security solutions and services to protect businesses, critical infrastructure, governments and consumers around the world. The company’s comprehensive security portfolio includes advanced endpoint protection, as well as a range of specialized security solutions and services to combat sophisticated and evolving digital threats. More than 400 million users are protected by Kaspersky technologies, and we help 270,000 corporate customers protect what matters most to them.

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