Trend Micro warns that ransomware attacks on Linux Systems will triple in coming years

Global IT security company Trend Micro is estimating a significant increase in ransomware attacks targeting Linux servers and embedded systems. This comes after the firm blocked 63 billion threats in the first half of 2022 alone. The number represents a 52% increase in the number of recorded threats from the same period last year. The firm further revealed that the three most targeted sectors are government, manufacturing, and health care.

According to Trend Micro, vulnerability exploitation stands as the most used attack surface by ransomware gangs. The company’s Zero Day Initiative has published advisories on 944 vulnerabilities during this period representing a 23% year-over-year increase. The number of critical bug advisories published rose by 400% compared to the same period last year.

Speaking on the matter Jon Clay who is VP at Trend Micro had this to say, “New and emerging threat groups continue to evolve their business model, focusing their attacks with even greater precision. it’s essential that organisations get better at mapping, understanding and protecting their expanding digital attack surface. A single, unified cybersecurity platform is the best place to start.”

As a reflection of this statement, ransomware-as-a-service is one of the fastest-growing markets in 2022. LockBit and Conti which are two of the well-known RaaS were detected with a 500% YoY increase.

On the other hand, Advanced Persistent Threat actors have also evolved their methods and are now combining a wide range of infrastructure with multiple malware tools to carry out more damaging attacks.

Organisations will have a big task of ensuring unpatched vulnerabilities are fixed quickly especially as they shift to the hybrid working model.