Ransomware
as a service (RaaS) is a low-code software delivery model for malicious
software. In this delivery model, programmers who develop software for carrying
out ransomware attacks make the software available, sometimes for purchase, on
the dark net.
RaaS
provides criminals with a minimal learning curve for carrying out extortion
attacks. The software is designed to be user-friendly and typically provides
the user with a graphical user interface (GUI) that looks very much like
traditional e-commerce dashboards. An RaaS dashboard will typically feature
drag-and-drop modules to help the criminal customize payloads, as well as
metrics for monitoring infections and the current price of bitcoin.
The
software as a service (SaaS) delivery model has proved to be beneficial to the
criminal because it allows them to lower their own risk profile. With RaaS,
they now have a choice to either become a silent partner in an extortion attempt
or remove themselves entirely and simply monetize their programming skills.
The
recent uptick in the number of ransomware infections has been attributed by
many security experts to the advent of RaaS and affiliate networks of RaaS
customers. To prevent yourself from becoming a victim of an RaaS attack,
security experts recommend the following:
- Backup all data on a regular basis to minimize the attack surface.
- Apply software updates as soon as they become available.
- Maintain a "security first" mentality.
- Consider investing in cybersecurity insurance.
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