The Necessity of WordPress Security
The often staggering costs associated with cyber attacks continue to rise, with victims known to have reportedly paid as much as $75 million to ransomware gangs. Undeniably, more than ever the necessity of WordPress security is apparent. The need to clean WordPress hack and carry out a comprehensive WordPress security audit can be the difference between a business’s survival or demise.
Notably, an undisclosed Fortune 50 company allegedly made a record-breaking payment of $75 million to a cybercriminal group known as the Dark Angels. This astronomical figure nearly outshines the previous record of $40 million paid in 2021 by insurance conglomerate CNA Financial; the company had been effectively locked out of its network by the Phoenix Locker ransomware.
In 2022, a new major player emerged on the scene – the notorious Dark Angels group. The group has a wide span of targets, including sectors such as healthcare, finance, government, and education. Large industrial, technological, and telecoms companies also find themselves at the mercy of the Dark Angels’ attacks.
Posting on their obscure data leak site, Dunghill, on the dark web, the Dark Angels present themselves as a collection of “technical specialists conducting research in the field of information security,” with disinterest in political affiliations or cooperation with governments and law enforcement agencies.
However, must we recognize the grim reality: the Dark Angels profit from extortion. They focus on threatening companies that their data will be leaked unless a hefty ransom is paid.
The machinations of Dark Angels involve compromising a company’s digital security, deciding whether or not to encrypt the business’s files, and then usually, they amass significant quantities of data over an extended period. In instances where large enterprises get infiltrated by the group, the stolen data can reach up to 100 TB according to research.
One of the most reported high-profile incidences occurred in September 2023, when Dark Angels managed to bring a multinational conglomerate to its knees. In this case, Dark Angels encrypted the firm’s VMware ESXi virtual machines and claimed to have pilfered more than 27 TB of the organization’s data. consequently, shutting down the business’s IT systems.
Reportedly, Dark Angels demanded a ransom of $51 million from Johnson Controls in return for a decryption tool and the deletion of the stolen files. However, the company ended up spending over $27 million remediating the attack and dealing with business disruptions.
Given the staggering headline of a company making a record-breaking $75 million ransom payment, other businesses might find themselves wondering how they would respond when confronted with a similar demand.
Any company can find itself under attack—it isn’t a question of if, but when. Still, the choice between paying millions to a ransomware gang or risking significant business disruption is daunting. However, it remains essential to report the incident to law enforcement agencies and assist in their investigations.
But equally important is realizing that paying a ransom doesn’t necessarily remove the security vulnerability that allowed the attackers in, to begin with. Unless businesses embark on a process to clean WordPress hack and conduct a thorough WordPress security audit, they remain prone to future ransomware invasions.
In an ever-evolving landscape of cyber attacks, the reality is that cyber threats are here to stay. And to thrive, companies must stay ahead through proactive and comprehensive WordPress security measures to mitigate potential risks.
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