IT, beware: Ransomware black hole threatens to consume all, according to report

It’s coming for you, too.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

What you need to know

For those not familiar with the power of ransomware, it’s worth looking back at theColonial Pipeline situationfrom mid-2021, wherein part of the U.S.’s oil supply infrastructure was temporarily crippled virtually overnight by a group utilizing the malware type.

And don’t think ransomware is only going after big targets. Threat actors make a habit of preying on unsuspecting businesses and individuals as well, should the promise of money be obvious enough. So when Sophos says the ransomware circuit is set to evolve, that’s bad news for everyone.

According to theSophos 2022 Threat Report, four major, blossoming ransomware trends have been identified.

In other words, if you want to learnhow to mine cryptoor are investigating what thebest GPUs for crypto miningare, be aware that you’re moving into territory heavily targeted by ransomware aficionados. It’s so heavily targeted by these sorts of threat actors, in fact, that the U.S. government has beenwhipping up sanctionsfor cryptocurrencies on the basis that they could stymie cybercriminal endeavors.

There’s a lot more to the ransomware report than just these findings, so if you want the full scoop, check out Sophos' writeup to learn more about how the malware type threatens IT in particular. And if you’re not afraid of ransomware and want to go all-in on Bitcoin or cryptocurrency in general, check out whatEl Salvador is up to.

Get the Windows Central Newsletter

All the latest news, reviews, and guides for Windows and Xbox diehards.

Robert Carnevale is the News Editor for Windows Central. He’s a big fan of Kinect (it lives on in his heart), Sonic the Hedgehog, and the legendary intersection of those two titans, Sonic Free Riders. He is the author ofCold War 2395. Have a useful tip? Send it to robert.carnevale@futurenet.com.