Hackers Testing Data Destruction to Make Ransomware Attacks More Effective

Ransomware hackers are experimenting with a new kind of attack that, instead of encrypting data, outright destroys it.

The aim is to make it impossible for victims to retrieve their data if they don’t pay the ransom.

Ransomware is one of the biggest cybersecurity issues facing the world today, and while many victims refuse to give in to the extortion, many feel they have no choice but to pay up for a decryption key.

But according to cybersecurity researchers at Cyderes and Stairwell, at least one ransomware group is testing ’data destruction’ attacks.

This would be dangerous for ransomware victims because while it’s often possible to retrieve encrypted files without paying a ransom, the threat of servers being completely corrupted if extortion demands aren’t met could push more victims towards giving in.