Differences Between Malware and Ransomware Protection

Cybercrime is more rampant now than ever before. Cybercriminals use advanced technologies to deploy cyberattacks at a previously unimaginable scale and velocity. Businesses scramble to build cybersecurity fortresses and law enforcement agencies work overtime to curb attackers but data breaches still occur at a frightening frequency. 

McKinsey reports that cybercrime will account for $10.5 trillion in damages by 2025. This includes numerous kinds of cyberattacks, including the main subjects of this article: ransomware and malware. To understand why these two attacks are so dangerous, keep in mind that ransomware itself could result in $265 billion in damages by 2031. 

Malware and ransomware attacks can cause sensitive data loss, downtime, compliance fines, financial disasters, and reputational harm. Enterprises have to address ransomware and malware attacks as a top priority. Amongst an endless list of potent cyber threats, these two attacks stand out as particularly damaging. 

Businesses must take strong proactive measures to mitigate ransomware and malware attacks. However, businesses must understand that they can’t treat malware and ransomware in the exact same way. Both malware and ransomware attacks require dedicated techniques and practices to solve.

In this blog post, we will focus on the difference between malware and ransomware protection. Let’s start by addressing a question that’s on a lot of minds: “What is malware and ransomware?”

What is malware? 

Is malware and ransomware the same thing? The simple answer is no. However, it’s not a surprise that people ask that question. The more you learn about malware, the more you will understand why. 

“Malware” comes from the words “malicious” and “software” because that’s exactly what it is: a malicious software. Threat actors use various forms of malware to exploit a victim’s computer systems, mobile devices, and other components of their IT ecosystem. 

Threat actors typically deploy malware attacks to exfiltrate sensitive information from their victims. Sensitive information could include credentials, customer data, and sector-specific data such as healthcare records. Cybercriminals can use malware in diverse ways, including manipulating victims to share sensitive data, hijacking multiple systems to cause downtime, and even stealthily using a victim’s systems for malicious purposes like cryptocurrency mining. 

Typically, threat actors spread malware via malicious attachments (like email attachments), social media pages, fake ads (known as malvertising), infected hard drives, and text messages. Cybercriminals also spread malware with social engineering tactics like phishing scams. This is when a threat actor sends messages and requests while posing as a legitimate and trustworthy individual or organization. 

A few important types of malware include: 

• Bots and botnets
• Rootkits
• Worms
• Trojans
• Viruses
• Spyware
• Fileless malware
• Adware
• Keyloggers
• Ransomware 

So what is the difference between malware and ransomware? As #10 on the above list reveals, ransomware is a variant of malware. 

What is ransomware? 

Before we dive into the intricacies of ransomware attacks, let us revisit the question: Is malware the same as ransomware? Malware isn’t always ransomware. In fact, there are numerous kinds of malware and ransomware is just one of them. 

But is ransomware malware? Yes, ransomware is always a type of malware. 

Ransomware is a very specific type of malware that threat actors use to restrict a victim’s access to their own files and systems. 

A typical ransomware attack goes as follows: 

• Adversaries use malicious code to encrypt their victim’s sensitive files to make them unreadable and inaccessible.

• They then present a ransom demand to the ransomware victim. The ransom note typically asks for money or bitcoin (the ransom payment) in exchange for decryption keys so enterprises can regain access to their encrypted files and infected systems. 

In the past, threat actors used fake websites and phishing emails to spread their ransomware infection. Now, with myriad advancing technologies, threat actors are beginning to exploit enterprise vulnerabilities and misconfigurations in new ways. Furthermore, current-day threat actors are psychologically astute, which allows them to orchestrate more manipulative social engineering attacks. 

A few important types of ransomware include:

• Crypto ransomware
• Locker ransomware
• Wiper malware
• Scareware
• Double/triple extortion malware
• Extortionware
• Ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS)

Real-world examples of ransomware include CryptoLocker, Petya, NotPetya, Bad Rabbit, Locky, Ryuk, REvil, and WannaCry. Remember that as you read this article, threat actors are developing and deploying new ransomware variants. 

Should businesses approach malware protection and ransomware protection differently? 

As we’ve established, businesses must take action against ever-present malware and ransomware threats. Hackers are working overtime to breach enterprise defenses with evolving exploit kits (an attack toolkit) so enterprises need to be on their guard. 

For both malware and ransomware attacks, the best way to guarantee security is by adopting a holistic and proactive cybersecurity approach, one that balances tools, practices, and talented cybersecurity personnel. To support their cybersecurity endeavors, businesses can also leverage the expertise and services of managed security service providers (MSSPs).

While a unified cybersecurity strategy and plan is of utmost importance, there are some specific measures and practices that businesses can adopt to mitigate malware and ransomware attacks specifically. 

Using specific security measures to address each of these attacks is important because, as explained in the previous sections, malware is an umbrella term for many different types of attacks whereas ransomware is a specific type of malware. While they share similarities, they also have important differences that businesses must address in their security strategy.  

Let’s take a look at how your enterprise can ward off malware and ransomware attacks.

How to protect your enterprise from malware attacks?

The following are some ways you can secure your organization from the constant threat of malware attacks like rootkits, worms, trojans, viruses, and spyware.  

Install antivirus software 

When your employees download files from the internet, it’s important that they scan those files for malware using antivirus software. Top antivirus software has strong anti-malware capabilities and is a powerful line of defense. Antivirus software that conducts automatic periodic scans of your IT devices can help your business catch malware attacks early and not after they become large-scale cybersecurity disasters.   

Regularly patch your apps 

Out-of-date applications are more susceptible to malware attacks. Therefore, it’s imperative that businesses take patch management seriously. By regularly patching and updating their applications and software, enterprises can harden their entire IT ecosystem and make malware attacks a less potent threat. 

Watch out for malvertising 

As we mentioned earlier, malvertising refers to fake advertisements that threat actors use to lure victims into downloading malware. Businesses must take steps to ensure that their employees are aware of malvertising and know what it looks like. A best practice is to completely avoid downloading any files from unapproved sources. 

Segment your network 

While network segmentation may sound overly technical, it’s a fairly simple concept to understand. By segmenting your enterprise’s network, you break it down into smaller components, each with its own unique configurations, boundaries, and security settings. Network segmentation ensures that even if malware finds its way into your IT environments, it doesn’t spread laterally. Instead, it will remain in a contained segment, allowing you to remediate it easily and before you lose sensitive data. 

If network segmentation still feels too technical or overwhelming for your in-house teams, you may want to explore the services of a reputed MSSP.

Adopt a zero trust security architecture 

Zero trust is a powerful security model that can help enterprises ward off a range of cyber threats including malware. The philosophy of this security architecture presupposes that every user in your IT environment is a potential threat. By treating every pillar in your IT estate like it’s susceptible to malware attacks, the zero trust model helps you stay one step ahead of threat actors. 

Prioritize data backups 

Considering the volume of malware attacks that haunt businesses today, it’s essential to regularly back up data. This will help enterprises bounce back from malware attacks and avoid extended downtime and service disruptions.

Leverage an endpoint security solution 

The average business today has hundreds of endpoints connected to its network. Those endpoints are all susceptible to dangerous malware threats. Therefore, organizations must adopt an effective endpoint security solution that provides real-time endpoint threat detection and response capabilities. 

Now that we’ve explored a few ways to prevent malware attacks, let’s zoom in and focus on one of the most dangerous types of malware: ransomware. 

How to protect your enterprise from ransomware attacks?

Before we dive into this list, remember that all of the above recommendations for malware protection also apply to ransomware protection. This is because ransomware is a form of malware. In the following list, we will look at some measures that you can take that are more ransomware-specific. 

However, let it not surprise you that these tactics can apply to other kinds of malware attacks as well. 

Conduct ransomware sandboxing

To see how ransomware attacks may unravel in real-world scenarios, it’s important to simulate such attacks in testing (or sandbox) environments. This can be done in-house or with the help of an MSSP. By testing all possible events that may occur as a consequence of ransomware attacks, you can develop a tried-and-tested playbook to use during worst-case scenarios.

Never disclose sensitive credentials and information 

Under no circumstances should employees in your organization share personal information or credentials outside of authorized channels. This is because adversaries may collect this information ahead of time to send believable phishing emails containing ransomware. It’s also essential to never download or open attachments from unverified email IDs.  

Use virtual private networks (VPNs)

VPNs essentially build a private tunnel where you can safely and secretly exchange data over public networks. By using VPNs, your business can sidestep the risks associated with public wi-fi networks. Like any other kind of malware, threat actors can deploy ransomware attacks more efficiently on unsecured public networks. A VPN is a simple way to prevent ransomware attacks over public wi-fi, which is an important security measure for companies with a lot of remote workers. 

Avoid using unauthorized hardware 

While we often discuss software vulnerabilities in relation to ransomware attacks, hardware devices can also contain ransomware infections. For example, an authorized USB drive can contain ransomware. Therefore, businesses have to conduct awareness training workshops to educate their employees on how and where ransomware can enter their IT estate. 

Establish a ransomware-specific incident response playbook 

While it’s important to ensure that ransomware attacks don’t take place, the reality of the modern world is that certain attacks are inevitable. Therefore, businesses need to have a comprehensive and well-oiled incident response plan if and when a ransomware attack occurs. Most importantly, all relevant IT and security personnel should know about this incident response plan so that remediation is a unified and swift effort. 

Do not pay the ransom 

Imagine a scenario where one of your employees accidentally sidesteps email security measures, opens a malicious link, and introduces ransomware into your systems. When threat actors reach out with a ransom note, it’s important not to take the bait. Recently, 40 countries came together in a decision never to pay threat actors during a ransomware attack.  

Many experts in the field highlight the fact that once you pay the ransom, there’s no guarantee of regaining access to your data and systems. Instead, it’s better to follow different protocols to respond to ransomware attacks, one that prioritizes getting your systems back in your hands without letting your adversaries win the battle. To regain access to your systems, there are many ransomware decryptors (decryption tools) that you can try.    

Explore publicly available ransomware resources 

Lastly, remember that you’re not alone in the battle against ransomware attacks. All around the world, governments, enterprises, and individuals are uniting to fight ransomware, and they have many resources that can help you. For example, the No More Ransom project is a product of the National High Tech Crime Unit of the Netherlands’ police, Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre, and cybersecurity companies. It features a list of decryption tools, prevention advice, and other critical resources that can help you prevent and respond to ransomware attacks. Like the No More Ransom project, many other publicly available resources may be of great help to mitigate ransomware threats. 

Conclusion 

In this article, we established the difference between malware and ransomware. We highlighted that ransomware is one of many types of malware. We also highlighted that a unified and comprehensive approach to cybersecurity is the best way to mitigate malware, ransomware, and other variants. However, there are also some specific security measures that businesses can take to prevent malware and ransomware attacks. 

Regarding malware, which also includes ransomware, some important security measures include installing antivirus software, patching applications, watching out for malvertising, segmenting your network, adopting zero trust, backing up data, and using an endpoint security solution. 

Looking more specifically at ransomware, we recommended conducting ransomware sandboxing exercises, not sharing sensitive information, using VPNs, avoiding unauthorized hardware, establishing incident response playbooks, never paying the ransom, and exploring various publicly available ransomware resources. 

By following the recommendations and security measures in this article, your business can stay safe from potent malware and ransomware threats.