Events , Fraud Management & Cybercrime , Infosecurity Europe Conference

Ransomware Goes Pro, Warns Expert

The ransomware industry has matured. Tim West, director of threat intelligence at WithSecure, warned about the modern ransomware ecosystem, which features an established marketplace of tools and services that can be used in ransomware attacks. This relatively recent development, he said, has lowered the bar for attackers, enabling them to operate more efficiently.

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Hacktivism is also on the rise but often serves as a cover for state operations, creating a significant impact on the cyberthreat landscape, he said. "Their goal isn't always necessarily to disrupt an organization. It's to build a message," he said. Meanwhile, nation-state attackers often maintain "plausible deniability," which enables them to "target smaller or midmarket organizations," West said.

In this video interview with Information Security Media Group at Infosecurity Europe 2024, West also discussed:

• The difficulties organizations face in patching vulnerabilities;
• The concerning rise in hacktivism linked to geopolitical conflicts;
• The dual role of AI in enhancing both offensive and defensive cyber capabilities.

West is an expert in threat modeling, threat intelligence and analysis. Prior to WithSecure, he worked as a cyberthreat intelligence analyst in the U.K. Civil Service.