Ransomware is a type of malicious software, or malware, designed to encrypt a victim’s data or lock them out of critical systems. Once the files are encrypted, attackers demand a ransom payment, often in cryptocurrency, to restore access. Ransomware has become one of the most financially devastating and fast-spreading cyber threats, affecting individuals, businesses, and governments alike.

A ransomware attack occurs when a cybercriminal successfully infects a system or network with ransomware. During the attack, the ransomware encrypts data or locks down the victim’s device, effectively holding their information hostage. Attackers then present a ransom demand, often with a strict deadline, and threaten to permanently delete or expose sensitive information if payment is not made.

Ransomware typically works in several stages:

1. Infiltration: Attackers gain access through phishing emails, malicious attachments, software vulnerabilities, or other deceptive tactics.
2. Encryption: Once inside the system, ransomware encrypts critical files, rendering them inaccessible.
3. Demand and Coercion: The victim is shown a ransom demand to regain access to the data, often with a time-sensitive ultimatum.
4. Potential Further Damage: Even after payment, some attackers may install additional malware, sell data, or leave the system vulnerable.

By using innovative approaches like Morphisec’s MTD, organisations can disrupt this process early, preventing ransomware from successfully executing its encryption step.

Ransomware locks or encrypts the victim’s files or system, denying access until a ransom is paid. Some ransomware variants, like “double extortion” ransomware, not only encrypt but also steal data, threatening to expose sensitive information if the ransom isn’t paid. Ransomware can halt entire business operations, leading to loss of revenue, reputation damage, and potentially significant recovery costs.

Ransomware can spread in multiple ways, including:

1. Phishing Emails: Cybercriminals use phishing emails with malicious attachments or links to infect a user’s device.
2. Drive-By Downloads: Simply visiting a compromised website can cause ransomware to download and infect the system.
3. Exploiting Software Vulnerabilities: Unpatched or outdated software can provide an entry point for ransomware.
4. Lateral Movement in Networks: Once inside a network, ransomware can move from one system to another, potentially affecting the entire organisation.

By adopting advanced technologies like Morphisec’s Moving Target Defense, organisations can prevent ransomware from executing, stop it from spreading, and safeguard their networks from these high-impact attacks.

Traditional antivirus and detection-based solutions are reactive, meaning they detect and respond after ransomware has already entered the system. As ransomware becomes more sophisticated, this reactive approach is proving insufficient. A proactive prevention method, like Morphisec’s Moving Target Defense, is needed to disrupt attacks at the point of entry by making endpoints unpredictable and dynamic.oggle Content

To prevent ransomware effectively, it’s essential to use a proactive and adaptable solution, and this is where Morphisec stands out. Morphisec uses Moving Target Defense (MTD) technology, a unique approach that continuously shifts and scrambles the attack surface. Here’s why Morphisec offers advantages over traditional solutions:

1. Proactive Threat Prevention: Unlike conventional antivirus or EDR solutions that rely on signatures or patterns, Morphisec’s MTD technology makes endpoints unpredictable to attackers, preventing ransomware from executing even if it’s undetected by traditional tools.

2. Protection Against Fileless Attacks: Ransomware increasingly uses fileless attack methods, running in-memory and avoiding files that are easy to detect. Morphisec’s MTD is designed to counter in-memory threats, making it particularly effective against these advanced, stealthy ransomware tactics.

3. Lightweight and Seamless Operation: Morphisec operates without the need for constant updates, heavy scanning, or signature-based detection, meaning it protects without impacting system performance or slowing down users.

Choosing Morphisec over other vendors offers a distinctive advantage: it provides zero-day protection by dynamically preventing any predictable foothold, reducing the likelihood of ransomware attacks at a level that traditional signature-based defenses cannot match.