Ransomware is a type of malware which criminals use to extort money. It holds data for ransom using encryption or by locking users out of their devices. Kaspersky’s report,Â
The percentage of victims who paid the ransom to restore access to their data last year was highest among those aged 35-44; with two-thirds (65%) having paid. That compares to just over half (52%) of those aged 16-24 and only 11% of those over the age of 55.
Whether they paid or not, only 29% of all victims were able to restore all their encrypted or blocked files following an attack. Half (50%) lost at least some files, 32% lost a significant amount, and 18% lost a small number of files. Meanwhile, 13% who did experience such an incident lost almost all their data.
At present, around four-in-ten (39%) of those surveyed claimed they were aware of ransomware over the past 12 months. It’s important that this number rises as remote working becomes more prolific. To help consumers protect themselves as they learn more about this form of cyberattack, it is vital that they understand what to look out for, and what to do if they encounter ransomware.