Abstract:

The growing organizations dependence on computing resources can be described as undeniable. Cyber attackers are aware of this fact and are exploiting vulnerabilities in systems and processes to their advantage in the form of cyber-attacks. One such attack is through ransomware, which encrypts the victim's data and demands payment of a ransom in return for decryption and re-access. This type of attack technique is nowadays a thriving business in which the amount of money demanded by the attackers is astronomical. The text of this paper presents a description of the ransomware principle, the payment methods used and, finally, an overview of the real damage caused in the form of both the ransom and the subsequent affected organization costs. There is also a basic overview of selected security measures to ensure protection against this type of attack.