Ransomware is becoming increasingly dangerous.

On June 21st, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Southern Branch of the Vietnam Information Security Association (VNISA Southern Branch), in collaboration with the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Information and Communications, organized a seminar titled "Ransomware – An Attack Method That Never Gets Old," highlighting the increasing danger of ransomware and the current lack of effective prevention solutions.

The seminar "Ransomware – An Attack Method That Never Gets Old" attracted many participants.

Ransomware causes significant financial losses.

Mr. Ngo Vi Dong, Vice President of the Vietnam Information Security Association and Chairman of the Southern Chapter, stated: "Ransomware is a growing cybersecurity threat, causing significant financial and reputational damage to businesses. This workshop aims to emphasize and raise awareness among the business community about the risks of ransomware, while also sharing effective prevention and response solutions, contributing to the protection of cybersecurity for organizations and, more broadly, national cybersecurity."

Recently, a series of ransomware attacks have emerged, targeting key businesses in Vietnam and causing significant damage to businesses and the community. These attacks have paralyzed information systems, disrupted operations and business activities, and resulted in substantial financial losses.

VNISA representative speaks about ransomware.

Many large businesses such as PVOIL and VNDIRECT have been attacked. The most recent incident involved Vietnam Post being attacked by ransomware in June 2024, causing significant property damage and business disruption. In the first three months of 2024, the National Cyber ​​Security Monitoring Center (NCSC) recorded more than 13,000 information security incidents related to ransomware.

“When attacked by ransomware, businesses are forced to pay large ransoms to recover data and restore systems, eroding customer and partner trust. The damage is not limited to economic losses but also has long-term effects on the reputation and competitiveness of Vietnamese businesses in the international market,” shared Dr. Pham Van Hau, Member of the Executive Board of the Southern Branch of VNISA, Director of the Cybersecurity Center at the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, at the conference.

According to Mr. La Manh Cuong, Vice President of Research and Development and General Director of OPSWAT Vietnam, the main reason why businesses in Vietnam become targets of cybercriminals is due to inadequate preparation in cybersecurity defense systems. The majority of businesses in Vietnam have not invested enough resources to implement effective security measures. In addition, the use of unlicensed software, lack of regular updates, and insufficient awareness of cybersecurity within the business community also contribute to the increased risk of attacks.

Find solutions to prevent ransomware.

Experts believe that most ransomware attacks today involve stealing sensitive personal or commercial data for extortion. This means they have very clear motives and purposes, making ransomware a significant threat to reputation and finances.

Furthermore, attackers are exploring ways to use AI to automate and accelerate attacks, create more effective malware, and carry out email phishing. With the development of connected mobile devices and the Internet of Things (IoT) via 5G, cybercriminals are also combining this with the potential for even greater cyberattacks in the future.

Mr. La Manh Cuong, Vice President of Research and Development and General Director of OPSWAT Vietnam, shared at the workshop.

“To prevent ransomware before a business is attacked, it is essential to deploy a comprehensive security solution based on a zero-trust philosophy to effectively protect the cybersecurity of their organization. Businesses should simultaneously apply advanced security technologies for critical network systems such as Content Data Reprocessing (CDR), Multiscanning, and Data Leak Prevention (DLP) technologies to maximize their cybersecurity defenses. These technologies help eliminate hidden threats in files, detect and prevent malware before it has a chance to infiltrate the system,” Mr. La Manh Cuong shared at the conference.

Beyond preventative measures, secure data backup and protection are the most effective lines of defense in the fight against ransomware. Mr. Tran Trung Dong, Business Development Director at Veeam, shared: “Recovering data not only from on-premises systems but also from the cloud, or both, helps businesses get back up and running much faster.”

“Having ransomware prevention solutions is essential to help businesses in Vietnam enhance their defense capabilities and protect their critical network systems against increasingly sophisticated and continuous cyberattacks. This allows businesses to be more proactive in developing disaster recovery plans (DRPs) to minimize operational disruptions caused by ransomware attacks. We aim to promote collaboration within the cybersecurity community, businesses, and stakeholders to develop effective ransomware prevention solutions to foster a safe and reliable online environment,” shared Mr. Ngo Vi Dong.

BA TAN

Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/ransomware-ngay-cang-nguy-hiem-post745682.html