Malware “Akira”

The average cost of a data breach in India rose to an all-time high of ₹17.9 crore in 2023, as per IBM's annual 'Cost of a Data Breach' report. This marked a 28% increase since 2020, the report added. It further noted that social engineering was the costliest root cause of breaches, followed by malicious insider threats.

Cyber threat is increasing day by day and the recent ruckus created by Akira Ransomware, has wreaked havoc on individuals, organizations, and governments alike. With its sophisticated techniques and ruthless approach, Akira has left a lasting impact on the cybersecurity landscape.

One of the most concerning aspects of Akira Ransomware is the unprecedented scale of damage it has caused. The malware is adept at encrypting crucial files and demanding exorbitant ransom payments for their release, crippling the operations of countless businesses and institutions. Its indiscriminate targeting of both large corporations and individual users has left victims in a state of helplessness, exacerbating the negative impacts.

Akira Ransomware is notorious for employing advanced encryption techniques that make data recovery virtually impossible without the decryption key. This has led to irreversible data loss for numerous victims, resulting in financial losses, compromised personal information, and the disruption of critical services. The level of sophistication exhibited by Akira sets a dangerous precedent for future cyber threats, highlighting the urgent need for improved counter-measures.

The government's CERT-In has issued a warning against the malware called 'Akira'. The ransomware is designed to steal data from users and encrypt it to conduct an extortion. In case a victim refuses to pay, their data is leaked on the dark web blog. CERT-In advised people to maintain offline backups, enforce strong password policies and to keep systems updated.

CERT-In has suggested that Internet users should use basic online hygiene and protection protocols to protect themselves from such attacks. It also recommended that users should maintain offline backups of critical data and keep them updated, to prevent its loss in case of an attack. The technology arm also advised that users should follow a strong password policy.

Dr. Deepak Kumar Sahu, President & CEO, VARINDIA