The onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic is something that most businesses weren’t prepared to deal with. Many enterprises did their due diligence and shifted their business model to a remote workforce. Like with all other processes, this was the furthest thing from a perfect transition. A variety of these companies weren’t prepared for the cyberattack, which ultimately showcased weaknesses in its security. Cyberattacks have become more commonplace and its impact has taken a toll on some brands that we’ve come to know and love. Here at RHYNO Networks, our tech support team is committed to bringing awareness to these issues, so that your organization doesn’t become another victim of these senseless attacks. Let’s discuss which businesses have been impacted the most, what the trends are showing, and what can be done to contain them.
The Marriott Brand Cyberattacks
Back in March of 2020, Marriott Hotels informed the public that an ample amount of guest information was accessed using the login credentials of two employees at a franchised property. The breach resulted in the exposure of 5.2 million guest accounts.
World Health Organization Cyberattacks
Hackers had targeted the World Health Organization (WHO) and leaked many of the staff’s credentials. This attack was part of a large target of organizations that were busy handling the COVID-19 pandemic.
Blackbaud Cyberattacks
In May of 2020, hackers were able to infiltrate Blackbaud, a global technology company that specializes in providing software for organizations that deal with charity work and education. When the ransomware attack occurred, Blackbaud was able to intercept it, or so they had thought from initial observations. The scope of the attack is still evolving and the company later revealed that bank account information and user passwords were a few of many details that were taken during the attack. Following this, Blackbaud would eventually pay a ransom in order to prevent any more data from being disclosed to the public.
Magellan Health Cyberattacks
In April of 2020, a complex plan of action was executed as a social engineering attack on Magellan Health, which is a Fortune 500 insurance company. In the months following the attack, the number of victims impacted was around 1.7 million. The data that was extracted contained info on both internal and external customers.
Garmin Cyberattacks
Garmin is known for its fitness tracking devices and GPS technology. Like the others on this list, they were also afflicted with a ransomware attack from the hacking group known as “Evil Corp.” The attackers were able to use the WastedLocker ransomware to hold their technology infrastructure hostage. It’s reported that Garmin has paid in excess of $10 million in ransom to Evil Corp in order to regain access to their systems.
Which Businesses Are The Most Susceptible To attacks?
No one is impervious to garnering attention from cybercriminals. Attackers will target all sizes, demographics, types, and locations. With that being said, the most recent trends from 2020 paint a particular story. Cyberattacks are continuing to grow in both their scale and sophistication. Groups like Evil Corp are targeting larger corporations like Fortune 500 companies.
The following industries have been targeted based on the 2020 trends:
- Government
- Services
- Manufacturing
- Healthcare
- Education
By countries, the US leads the nation with 57% of attacks occurring here. We’ve discussed in previous articles ways to augment your network’s security. Some examples for improving your network security include adjusting your passwords, creating backup plans to prevent data loss, granting portal access, and much more. While ransomware can still impose some threats, there are steps you can take with your tech support team to mitigate the chances of your corporation suffering from the same fate.
Working With A Professional Tech Support Team
To learn more about working alongside IT professionals, RHYNO Networks is your one-stop-shop for all IT and security solutions. Contact us today to learn more about our process.
