
Lower-level attacks are getting more difficult to spot, too. Bottom line: Don’t expect hackers to show you mercy.

Just like that, they’re two times richer, and you’re robbed of your money and pride. To finally get your data back, they demand another $5,000. The hackers lift the first layer, only for you to find the second layer beneath. Let’s say they demand $5,000 to decrypt your data. That’s when they encrypt your data twice at once.īy layering two types of ransomware on top of one another, they’re tricking you into paying double the original ransomware amount. They’ve invented a new method called double encryption. Now, criminals have beefed up their techniques. It’s a total violation of your work and your personal life. Here’s more detail: Hackers break into your computer, ransack all your files and programs, and encrypt everything. Hackers are getting smarterĮarlier, we touched upon the way ransomware works. This brings us to the next big reason you should upgrade your antivirus software. To make matters worse, their techniques improve every day. There’s no denying the ubiquity of cybercrime in today’s digital world. That means you should never pay if a ransomware attack hits your system. The State of Ransomware 2021 reports that only 65% of data gets restored after paying the ransom. Unfortunately, that’s just wishful thinking.

You might feel optimistic and hope that the hackers will hold up their end of the bargain once you’ve drained your bank account.

If that weren’t scary enough, you could still be cheated even if you do pay. In 2020, the average payment cybercriminals demanded was $178,000, Coveware research found. While your stress is at an all-time high, they demand a ridiculous amount of money. Manipulative hackers prey on your panic and fear once you realize your critical files are inaccessible. Ransomware attacks are incredibly costly for your wallet and mental well-being. You undoubtedly heard about the catastrophic cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline, which took down 5,500 miles of the nation’s largest gas pipelines.
