Close X
Monday, November 11, 2024
ADVT 
National

Study Finds Dozens Of Canadian Firms Have Paid Ransoms To Regain Control Of Data

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 03 Aug, 2016 12:11 PM
    TORONTO — A new report has revealed dozens of Canadian organizations were forced to pay attackers over the past year to regain access to computer files and IT systems infected with ransomware.
     
    The finding is part of an international study conducted on behalf of a Silicon Valley company that fights ransomware, which typically locks legitimate users out of a system and sends a message requiring a payment to get a software code or key.
     
    The Osterman Research study published by Malwarebytes found 44 of the 125 Canadian respondents, all of whom were anonymous, reported having a ransomware attack on their organization in the previous 12 months.
     
    A majority of the victims, 33 of the respondents, said they'd paid ransoms with costs ranging from $1,000 to $50,000.
     
    They study also found 11 of the 44 organizations targeted by ransomware had to shut down their business for a time to deal with the attack and devote an average of nine person-hours to recover.
     
     
    Five of the victim respondents, all identified as working in the health-care industry, said they believed lives were at risk.
     
    "The decision to pay, especially in Canada, is directly linked to the risk of businesses getting shutdown and lives being lost as a result of a ransomware attack," Jerome Segura, a Malwarebytes analyst, said in an email exchange.
     
    "Results from the survey show that health care is one of the most targeted industries among those affected by ransomware.
     
    "Nowadays, most patients' records are digital and access to those is required for treatment procedures. Obviously, the equipment used by medical facilities is also dependent on data stored on computers."
     
    The Canadian findings were part of an international study of a total of 540 people in four countries — Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany — who are employed as chief information officer, chief information security officer or information technology director. An advance copy was provided to The Canadian Press and released generally on Wednesday.
     
    Surveys of such small samples aren't considered statistically accurate enough to make precise comparison. However, Malwarebytes concludes that firms in Canada were the most likely to indicate they'd paid ransom demands once infected.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Newfoundland Man, 79, Survives Violent Collision With Massive Humpback Whale

    Newfoundland Man, 79, Survives Violent Collision With Massive Humpback Whale
    When his son's small boat hit a 40-tonne humpback whale and almost capsized, 79-year-old Tony Morgan remembers flying through the air, hitting the water and then — utter blackness.

    Newfoundland Man, 79, Survives Violent Collision With Massive Humpback Whale

    Celine Dion Superfans Eagerly Await Her Return To Quebec For Summer Tour

    Celine Dion Superfans Eagerly Await Her Return To Quebec For Summer Tour
    MONTREAL — When pop superstar Celine Dion brings her summer tour to Montreal beginning on Sunday, Estevam Peric will be in the audience for all 10 shows.

    Celine Dion Superfans Eagerly Await Her Return To Quebec For Summer Tour

    Strong Support For B.C. Housing Tax But Little Confidence In Its Efficacy: Poll

    Strong Support For B.C. Housing Tax But Little Confidence In Its Efficacy: Poll
    Most respondents support a tax on foreign buyers of Metro Vancouver homes but at the same time doubt how effective the move will be at cooling the region's red-hot real estate market.

    Strong Support For B.C. Housing Tax But Little Confidence In Its Efficacy: Poll

    Supreme Court Says Circumstantial Evidence Can Be Enough For Child Porn Cases

    Supreme Court Says Circumstantial Evidence Can Be Enough For Child Porn Cases
    OTTAWA — The Supreme Court of Canada says circumstantial evidence can be enough to convict someone of possessing child pornography.

    Supreme Court Says Circumstantial Evidence Can Be Enough For Child Porn Cases

    Man Accused Of Stabbing Soldiers At Toronto Military Centre Found Fit To Stand Trial

    Man Accused Of Stabbing Soldiers At Toronto Military Centre Found Fit To Stand Trial
    Ayanle Hassan Ali, a 27-year-old born in Montreal, allegedly stabbed several soldiers inside the recruitment centre, sending two to hospital. Nobody was killed in the attack.

    Man Accused Of Stabbing Soldiers At Toronto Military Centre Found Fit To Stand Trial

    Montrealers Protest, Claiming Police Brutality In Death Of Ottawa Man

    Montrealers Protest, Claiming Police Brutality In Death Of Ottawa Man
    MONTREAL — Several dozen people gathered in Montreal on Thursday night to remember a 37-year-old Somali-Canadian man who died after a confrontation with police in Ottawa last weekend.

    Montrealers Protest, Claiming Police Brutality In Death Of Ottawa Man