Cyber Crime

According to SonicWall’s Cyber Threat Report, every category of cyber attack has increased, including encrypted threats, ransomware, cryptojacking, intrusion attempts and IoT malware. Ransomware has emerged as the top threat as hackers have figured out that it is an easier, more profitable venture. According to Microsoft, 58% of detected state-backed hacks came from Russia in 2021. Cybersecurity Ventures estimated that ransomware damage reached $20 billion during the year. Of particular concern to federal authorities are ransomware attacks on healthcare providers, hospitals, 9-1-1 and first responders.

Among the worst attacks of the year was a Russian malware attack in a SolarWinds Orion software update that allowed hackers to access the data of more than 100 private companies for nearly two years before being discovered. In what has been called the worst internet hack in history, the hack on Log4Shell left virtually every company vulnerable to an attack, which allows hackers to access computer systems without a password, quickly weaponizing to take advantage of the vulnerability.

Hafnium, a Chinese hacking group, leveraged vulnerabilities in Microsoft’s Exchange platform that gave them access to email accounts of more than 30 thousand organizations in the U.S. and 250 thousand globally.

Another criminal group, DarkSide, breached Colonial Pipeline systems to shut down a major fuel supply pipeline network along the U.S. east coast. Colonial paid a $4.4 million ransom to restore its systems. in 2021