Ransomware attacks vary in how they are utilized, yet all are highly devastating to organizations of different industries and sizes.
Ryuk ransomware is a common type of ransomware that has caused immense financial and reputational damage to school systems, news outlets, tech companies, and more.
Below, we’ll cover the most important information on Ryuk ransomware and the best defense strategies to help you protect against ransomware.
What Is Ryuk Ransomware?
Ryuk ransomware is a type of “locker” ransomware. Locker ransomware attacks are designed to infect systems by installing software that allows the threat actor to bypass authorization, giving them access to an entire network of systems.
One common method threat actors use to deploy Ryuk ransomware is by sending out a phishing email that has a link or document infected with malware. Once the attachment or link is clicked, threat actors may use other malware — such as TrickBot — to trick your cybersecurity tools into trusting the malware, gather the most sensitive data, and allow the Ryuk ransomware to encrypt the data before holding it for ransom.
Threat actors also pair Ryuk ransomware with tactics and tools like:
- Exploit kits.
- Social engineering.
- Drive-by downloads.
3 Cybersecurity Defense Strategies for Ryuk Ransomware
1. Ensure You Have Backup Protection
Keeping your data backed up and updated is the best defense against many types of ransomware, including Ryuk.
Using a tried-and-true approach that keeps Ryuk from accessing those backups is essential, such as the 3-2-1 method, which is summarized below.
- 3. You make three copies of your information (at the very least). These copies are clones of the initial set of data, which is your original.
- 2. Put these copies on two different types of storage devices. By having multiple storage devices, you are guaranteed to have your data even in the event of an attack or other device malfunction.
- 1. A single, secure off-site backup copy needs to be kept. For further security against Ryuk compromising these backups, remove this off-site location from your IT network.
2. Implement Multiple Layers of Authentication
According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to accomplish strong multi-factor authentication (MFA), it is “necessary to add more layers of authentication beyond a password to ensure that accounts remain secured.”
Strong MFA should include the following aspects:
- Personal knowledge. Information only you can know, such as answers to personal security questions.
- Owned identification or authentication. Personal codes, specific ID cards or badges, etc.
- Personal traits. Biometrics, such as fingerprints, voice, or retina scans.
3. Utilize a Ransomware Recovery as a Service Provider
In the event your organization is attacked by a threat actor using Ryuk ransomware, taking on recovery and remediation is a lot to handle, even for an experienced IT team.
Working with a Ransomware Recovery as a Service (RRaaS) provider can take that burden off your hands, as well as help your organization recover from the attack properly, so you can shift your focus to running your business.
For example, a top RRaaS provider can help deliver the peace of mind your organization deserves by recovering from multiple types of ransomware, including:
- Ryuk Ransomware
- Dharma Ransomware Recovery
- Phobos Ransomware
- GandCrab Ransomware
- And many more
More Ransomware Defense and Remediation Tips and Techniques
Ryuk ransomware defense, as well as protection from other ransomware attacks, should be at the forefront of your cybersecurity framework. There are many techniques besides the ones mentioned here, including vital ransomware recovery and remediation tactics.
Additionally, our team has created a convenient, comprehensive checklist to walk you through ransomware recovery. With clearly outlined steps from cybersecurity experts, this checklist can help you take rapid action in the event of a ransomware attack.
Get your free copy of our Ransomware Recovery Checklist today.
