Expect attackers to continue refining their tactics for maximizing profits via a grab bag of the same strategies, including forcibly encrypting systems and charging for a decryptor, stealing data and threatening to dump it, creating scary public personae, or a combination of the above.
LockBit, which was disrupted this week by law enforcement, is one of the most successful ransomware groups in history. Canadian intelligence tied it to 44% of all ransomware attacks globally in 2022. Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis said that since the start of 2023, LockBit has received the second-highest amount of traceable ransom payments of any ransomware group.
