Growing Cyber Threat: Ransomware-as-a-Service

In the ever-changing world of cybersecurity, ransomware attacks have become a substantial and pervasive threat. Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) is a growing trend among the numerous incarnations of ransomware. It’s a disturbing trend that has altered the cybercrime landscape, allowing individuals with less technical knowledge to carry out devastating operations.

Ransomware is traditionally defined as malware that encrypts victims’ files, preventing access to data and apps until the victims pay the threat operators the ransom. However, more modern threat operators frequently employ an extra method. The threat actors make copies of the compromised data and threaten to publish sensitive data online if their ransom demands aren’t met. The dual strategy adds another layer of complication and risk to the victims.

RaaS is the most recent business model to emerge in the world of ransomware. Inexperienced threat operators can use on-demand tools for malicious actions, like other “as-a-service” offerings. Instead of developing and deploying their ransomware, users can pay a fee, choose a target, and execute the attacks using specialized tools offered by service providers. The model drastically reduces the time and expenses required to carry out ransomware attacks, particularly when identifying new targets. According to a recent survey, the average time between a ransomware threat operator accessing networks and encrypting files has fallen by 24 hours for the first time.

Additionally, the RaaS model promotes economies of scale by incentivizing service providers to create new strains that can bypass security defenses. Having numerous customers aids ransomware developers in marketing their tools. The clients spread specific ransomware variants across multiple machines, creating a sense of urgency for victims to pay the ransom. When victims conduct research on the ransomware and discover numerous reports about it, they’re more likely to comply with the ransom demands. It’s like a criminal branding campaign. With a larger customer base, ransomware developers can get more specific input on which tactics perform best in different situations. Ransomware developers receive real-time information on how well cybersecurity tools are adapting to new strains, and where vulnerabilities remain unplugged.

Despite its illegal nature, Raas functions in the same way that legitimate companies do. Customers, often known as “affiliates,” might pay in a variety of ways, including fixed fees, subscriptions, or a portion of sales. In certain situations, providers would manage the ransom-collecting process, generally using untraceable cryptocurrencies, acting as payment processors. Additionally, it’s a very competitive market, with users’ feedback on “dark web” forums.  Customers aren’t loyal and competition drives up quality, which is terrible for victims. If a service fails to meet expectations, customers will try another RaaS group. Having numerous affiliations broadens their possibilities and increases the likelihood of profiting from their cybercriminal activities. Because all affiliates are looking for the best RaaS group, competition between RaaS groups may increase. A minor failure of their malware not running on victims can cause groups to lose affiliates and will shift to other groups with better name recognition, those where their malware executes.

There are various pieces of advice for ransomware defense that emphasize the significance of company continuity. Maintaining reliable backups and developing effective disaster recovery plans are examples of how to mitigate the impact of successful attacks. Even though the measures are unquestionably beneficial, it’s important to remember that they don’t directly address the risk of data exposure. It’s critical to proactively detect and address security vulnerabilities to effectively combat ransomware attacks. Using penetration testing and team exercises can greatly improve companies’ defenses. Collaboration with pen testing as a service (PTaaS) providers is strongly recommended for continuous and comprehensive approaches, especially for dynamic attack surfaces, including web applications. SpearTip’s penetration testing provides real-time analytics, continuous monitoring, and professional validation ensuring the security of companies’ web applications at scale. Information is a valuable asset in the fight against ransomware, and Cyber Threat Intelligence is crucial. At SpearTip, we offer a flexible approach to threat detection and analysis that is tailored to companies’ infrastructure. Companies’ security teams can quickly and effectively respond to ransomware attacks provided they have access to updated threat intelligence and actionable context.

Ransomware attacks have become more complex, resulting in threats that are more potent, targeted, and agile. To protect against the growing threat effectively, it’s critical to employ tailored solutions powered by the most recent. Contact SpearTip for assistance in taking the required steps to protect companies’ security. Our certified engineers work continuously at our 24/7/365 Security Operations Center monitoring companies’ data networks for potential ransomware threats and are ready to respond to incidents immediately. Our IR planning engages a three-phase approach, which includes pre-incident, active incident, and post-incident planning processes. In the pre-incident aspect, SpearTip identifies key stakeholders and decision-makers, critical data, and potential access points and then engages in a live test, after which we offer remediation guidance. To benefit companies during an incident, we assist in developing a communications plan designed to detect and isolate the precise threat with a customized strategy map. The post-incident planning process development includes root cause and investigative audit, improvement analysis, and backup recovery. ShadowSpear platform, our integrable managed detection and response tool, exposes sophisticated unknown and advanced ransomware threats with comprehensive insights through unparalleled data normalization and visualizations.

If your company is experiencing a breach, call our Security Operations Center at 833.997.7327 to speak directly with an engineer.