We must alert you to a new cybersecurity threat that demands immediate attention. Akira is a new ransomware that poses a significant risk to businesses of all sizes and has targeted multiple sectors, including finance, real estate, manufacturing, and healthcare. It will encrypt your valuable data and demand ransom payments in the millions, or your company’s data will be released publicly.
Akira is a ransomware group or gang that runs like a business focused solely on profiting from attacking yours. It has demonstrated a high level of sophistication, making traditional security measures less effective. Some industry experts indicate the Akira ransomware group has ties to or is working with the Conti ransomware group, expanding on both groups’ capabilities, reach, and threat level.
Ransomware: A Constantly Evolving Concern
Having recently attacked Stanford University and threatening to release their private data online, Akira is proving to be a formidable threat, compromising over 60 organizations since March 2023 with no signs of slowing down. According to one report, 73% of organizations were compromised by ransomware in 2022, and with the growing impact of AI, there is no telling what’s to come in 2024.
Business Owners Must Stay Vigilant
Where some large institutions have been hit, 80% of Akira’s targets have been small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), which is the case for most ransomware attacks. SMBs cannot always afford to pay the demands or endure the shutdown of their operations, which is why more than 60% of those businesses close after the first few months of this type of cyberattack.
The critical first step as an owner is educating your staff and reinforcing email safety protocols. Next, we strongly advise reviewing and enhancing your cybersecurity to safeguard your business and its sensitive and priceless data. In addition, hiring an outside cybersecurity and IT provider, such as TCI Technologies, will provide your company with the technical expertise needed to protect it from internal and external threats.
