By: Staff Writer
April 13, Colombo (LNW): In 2024, Kaspersky’s cybersecurity solutions detected and blocked 2,803 ransomware incidents targeting businesses in Sri Lanka. This represents a 6% increase from the previous year, highlighting the ongoing and escalating threat of ransomware across various sectors. Experts emphasize the need for businesses to enhance their IT security measures to combat the increasingly sophisticated nature of these attacks, which can have devastating financial and reputational consequences.
Notably, in November 2024, Sri Lanka experienced significant cyberattacks targeting major corporations and government entities. These breaches exposed vulnerabilities and led to unauthorized access to sensitive data, underscoring the urgency of strengthening the nation’s cybersecurity infrastructure.
Kaspersky’s Sam Yan, Head of Sales for Asia Emerging Countries, stressed that while the number of ransomware attempts may seem manageable, the impact of even a single successful attack can be catastrophic. He urged businesses to invest in effective cybersecurity solutions that offer comprehensive protection against ransomware, as not all security products provide the same level of defense.
Kaspersky’s cybersecurity tools, including Kaspersky Endpoint Security for Business, Kaspersky Small Office Security, and Kaspersky Standard, have demonstrated perfect ransomware protection in real-world testing scenarios, according to assessments by AV-TEST. This performance reinforces the effectiveness of Kaspersky’s solutions in safeguarding businesses from ransomware threats.
To support victims of ransomware and aid in global efforts to combat cybercrime, Kaspersky continues its partnership with Europol, the Dutch National Police, and other cybersecurity organizations through the No More Ransom initiative. Launched in 2016, this initiative provides free decryption tools and resources to help ransomware victims recover their data. By the end of 2024, the initiative had expanded to cover 42 ransomware families, helping over 2.3 million victims worldwide.
Kaspersky’s contribution to the No More Ransom initiative highlights its dedication to fighting ransomware and strengthening global cybersecurity. The company encourages businesses to adopt best practices for protecting themselves from ransomware attacks, such as avoiding exposure of remote desktop services to public networks, using strong passwords and two-factor authentication, and ensuring software is regularly updated.
In addition, Kaspersky advises businesses to focus on detecting lateral movements and data exfiltration during cyberattacks and to regularly back up data, particularly offline backups. Companies should also be cautious of downloading pirated software or software from untrusted sources and assess the security of their supply chain and managed services.
Furthermore, educating employees about cybersecurity risks is vital. Kaspersky offers training courses via its Automated Security Awareness Platform to help businesses bolster their defenses. By staying informed through resources like the Kaspersky Threat Intelligence Portal, organizations can gain valuable insights into the tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs) used by cybercriminals.
In conclusion, as ransomware threats continue to evolve, businesses in Sri Lanka must prioritize cybersecurity and adopt comprehensive protection strategies to safeguard their operations and data.
