Ransomware virus is malware software that encrypts files and documents from one PC to the entire network. The perpetrators will ask their victims for a copy so they can access the network that was taken over again.
Ransomware incidents have often occurred in various parts of the world. The victims also varied, from pipeline companies to well-known universities.
5 Ransomware Attack Incidents
US Oil Pipeline
The Colonial Pipeline system had to be offline thanks to being attacked by cyber actors. The line is the source of half the fuel supply on the US East Coast.
Ransomware managed to lock the US oil pipeline system’s computer system. The perpetrators also demanded payment so that network access could be restored.
The attack in May had nearly dried up a number of fuel supplies at gas stations from Florida to Virginia. Prices are also reported to have jumped just four days after the incident.
Cyberpunk 2077
This popular game was also a victim of a ransomware virus last February. Perpetrators can access internal networks, encrypt servers and demand ransom.
Game developer CD Projekt said their backups remained intact and managed to secure IT infrastructure and perform data recovery. The company also emphatically refused to provide the perpetrator’s demands.
According to CD Projekt, passing the request could lead to the release of compromised data. This move was praised by Incident Response Lead Check Point EMEA and APAC, Jon Niccols who said half of Ransomware incidents including threats always released data that had been stolen.
“But CD Projekt Red did the right thing by refusing to grant the hacker’s request,” he said.
JBS
The hack that plagued meatpackers had an impact even outside the US and on thousands of jobs. JBS identified an attack on Sunday.
The company said it would resume operations Thursday local time in the United States. There are five of the largest beef factories.
The BBC’s page reports that it is not yet known whether JBS followed the perpetrator’s request by paying the requested ransom.
California University
School of Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco (USFC) was also hit by a cyber attack. The campus also confirmed paying a ransom of US$1.14 million.
The attack had no impact on the delivery of patient care or research work on Covid-19 cures. However, there is indeed a limited amount of data on the server that has been successfully encrypted.
The data according to the campus is important for academic work being pursued as a university serving the public interest, quoted by Forbes.
The BBC reports that the hackers initially demanded a ransom of US$3 million, but were eventually negotiated by representatives of the USFC. But a USFC spokesman said if there was a mistake to assume the entire negotiation statement was factually correct.
CWT Global
In 2020, US travel company CWT Global became the biggest ransom payer. That is US$4.5 million in Bitcoin on Ragnar Locker.
Launching the IT Governance page, the hackers (ransomware virus) reportedly managed to disable 30 thousand computers and endanger two terabytes of data. In addition, financial records, security documentation and personal details of employees such as addresses and salary data are also affected.
Discussions between the company and hackers take place in chat rooms, although they are anonymous. At first the perpetrators asked for US $ 10 million. However, company representatives said CWT Global was affected by Covid-19. So can’t pay the requested money.
Read now: The Danger of Ransomware, Attacking Banks and Popular Apps
