Partial Encryption
2023-10-25![Partial Encryption Partial Encryption](https://varindia.com/public/index.php/storage/news/uploads/2018/02/6538b5c495d0d.jpg)
The emergence of partial encryption as a strategy to make cybercrime even more profitable is a concerning trend that has the potential to significantly impact organizations and individuals alike. While traditional ransomware attacks involve encrypting all of a victim's files, making them inaccessible until a ransom is paid, partial encryption selectively encrypts only a portion of the data. This approach offers several advantages for cybercriminals, making it an attractive option for increasing their profits.
Encryption is a tried-and-true strategy for malware actors. Malware within the victims’ systems leaves their data in place but completely inaccessible. Attackers then demand a price to unlock the data so that victims can resume business as usual. In a second-tier strategy, in the event that victims refuse to pay, attackers can still make money by selling the compromised data.
Based on this model, ransomware has become big business over the last decades. And like all big businesses, attackers are always seeking to optimize their operations and find more efficient, cost-effective ways to achieve the same or better results.
Encryption in particular can be very time-consuming, especially for large amounts of data. This has led attackers to seek more efficient, effective ways to render victims’ data inaccessible unless they pay the ransom.
Partial encryption, also known as intermittent encryption, has emerged as just one example of increasingly sophisticated attack tactics, often in readily available off-the-shelf ransomware products that are openly sold on the darkweb much like traditional software.
Whereas, Royal ransomware is particularly insidious because it not only uses partial encryption but also a multithreaded model, another increasingly popular strategy. In a single attack, there is only one ransomware process; a multithreaded attack uses multiple CPU cores to encrypt files simultaneously.
Moving forward, organizations and individuals need to be aware of this emerging trend and take steps to protect themselves. Implementing robust cybersecurity measures, maintaining regular backups, and educating employees about cyber threats can help mitigate the risks posed by partial encryption attacks.
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