Australia sees 95% ransomware success rate, healthcare most impacted

Security partners and practitioners - This Halloween, let’s make sure our clients aren’t playing trick or treat with threat actors. 🎃 Ransomware is a crime of opportunity - and the scariest part? It doesn’t take much to become an attacker these days. Honestly, just look at a majority of the suspects caught in large breaches recently. With phishing kits, leaked credentials, and automated tools readily available from RaaS (Ransomware as a Service) groups, the barrier to entry has never been lower. Most attackers just wait for someone to leave the door open. 👻 Now as spooky as that sounds, security teams shouldn’t panic. Chances are they've already made solid investments that can keep them protected - let's just make sure they're implemented and configured correctly so there are no doors left open or unlocked. 😉

A ransomware group claimed to steal 23 GB of sensitive Apache OpenOffice data—but forensic evidence found no breach. This counters the common fear that every claim equals compromise. For open-source projects, transparency and volunteer-based structures limit attack surfaces and sensitive data exposure—key advantages in today’s ransomware landscape. The Apache Software Foundation investigated thoroughly and confirmed no evidence of compromise, no leaked data, and no ransom demand. This shows how unverified extortion claims can serve as psychological pressure rather than factual breaches. Stat: Ransomware attacks with data theft doubled extortion payments by 340% on average in 2025, yet many claims lack substantiated leaks or demands. To protect your organization: - Treat all claims seriously but verify with forensic analysis - Communicate transparently and promptly with stakeholders - Leverage public transparency where possible to reduce extortion risk - Implement strong identity and access controls even in open-source environments - Monitor for fake extortion attempts and evolve incident response plans accordingly Understanding these dynamics helps separate fear from fact, preserving resilience and trust. How does your team approach unverified breach claims in your security protocols? 🔒📊👥 #Cybersecurity #OpenSourceSecurity #Ransomware #RiskManagement

💻 Ransomware 2025: Double the Damage Ransomware has evolved it’s no longer just about locking systems. Today’s attackers are playing a more ruthless game: data theft, public extortion, and multi-channel blackmail. Earlier, organizations paid to regain access to locked files. Now, cybercriminals steal sensitive data before encrypting it, threatening to leak it publicly if their ransom demands aren’t met. This new wave of Double and Triple Extortion attacks expands the impact beyond IT targeting customers, partners, and even board members, amplifying financial, reputational, and regulatory risks. ⚙️ Defending Against Modern Ransomware 24×7 MDR monitoring for real-time threat detection Immutable backups and recovery drills to ensure resilience Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) to contain and minimize breach impact 💡 Key Insight: In the era of Ransomware 2.0, prevention is cheaper than ransom. A single compromise can cost millions in data, reputation, and trust. At SNSKIES, we help organizations strengthen cyber resilience with layered defense strategies, proactive threat hunting, and AI-driven monitoring to stop ransomware before it strikes. 🚨 Because when it comes to ransomware, paying once can mean paying forever. #SNSKIES #Ransomware #CyberSecurity #ZeroTrust #MDR #SOC #DataProtection #DoubleExtortion #DigitalTrust #InfoSec #ThreatIntelligence #RiskManagement #SecurityAwareness #CyberResilience

🚨 Don’t Wait for the Breach — Act Before the Attack Hits Too many organizations only boost security after an incident. As the WSJ notes, companies that raised cyber budgets significantly often did so because they’d already been breached or attacked (https://lnkd.in/dqrAqJyv) Pragmatic moves you can take now • Make phishing-resistant MFA your default (stop relying on SMS/OTP and unchecked push): see CISA’s guidance on Implementing Phishing-Resistant MFA (https://lnkd.in/dhNCYqQt) • Align controls and evidence to regulation: ENISA’s NIS2 Technical Implementation Guidance gives actionable measures and what auditors will look for. (https://lnkd.in/dRku4yiK) (https://lnkd.in/dQyjvGpe) • Reduce human error and help-desk drain with self-service recovery and passwordless patterns (passkeys, biometrics without device dependence) — design for less friction, more assurance. Outcome to aim for in 30–90 days: measurable drop in credential compromises and reset tickets, higher MFA adoption, and clear NIS2 evidence before your next incident response call. #CyberSecurity #CISO #CIO #NIS2 #PhishingResistantMFA #ZeroTrust #IAM #MFA #Passkeys #Biometrics #RiskManagement #Compliance #InfoSec #OTSecurity

Record spike in major UK cyberattacks puts businesses on alert – National Cyber Security Centre 🚨 UK businesses are facing a sharp rise in nationally-significant cyberattacks — 204 incidents handled by the NCSC in the past year, up from 89 the year before. (Insurance Business UK) What this means for you: • Adversaries are more persistent • Threats escalate in severity • Waiting to act isn’t an option At XLCyber we help you measure your risk, take action, and stay ahead of the curve. Here is a link to the article from Insurance Business UK for further information: https://lnkd.in/eVVHAsbA #XLCyber #CyberSecurity #UKBusiness #RiskManagement #ProactiveSecurity

Nightspire claims to have targeted Eastern Cape Department of Human Settlements, South Africa, appearing on their leak site on November 10, 2025. Nightspire ransomware actors have reportedly reportedly exfiltrated 20GB of data from an undisclosed victim, potentially exposing sensitive information and potentially enabling further attacks. this reported breach underscores the urgent need for robust data loss prevention and incident response capabilities. Organizations must immediately review their data loss prevention strategies and incident response plans to mitigate the impact of this data exfiltration. 💰💥 #cyberattack #cybersecurity #databreach #ransomware https://lnkd.in/gnSGT3nB

In a world that runs on technology, our growing reliance on digital systems brings with it a growing exposure to cyber risks such as phishing, ransomware, malware, and data breaches. These threats are constantly evolving and challenging the safety, privacy, and continuity of individuals and businesses alike. Beyond operational disruption, cyber incidents can lead to financial losses, data compromise, and reputational damage. In such moments, cyber insurance becomes an essential layer of protection in helping organizations managing financial impact and recover from unforeseen digital challenges. Yet, the best defence always begins with awareness. Practicing safe online habits, using strong and unique passwords, verifying emails before clicking links, enabling multi-factor authentication, and keeping systems regularly updated. This can significantly reduce our exposure to risk. This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, let’s commit to building a culture of digital vigilance because true protection isn’t only about prevention it’s about preparedness, awareness, and resilience. Stay alert. Stay aware. Stay secure. 🛡️ #CyberSecurityAwarenessMonth #CyberInsurance #InsuranceIndustry #DigitalSafety #RiskManagement #DataProtection #CyberAwareness #InsuranceMatters #BusinessProtection #3DI

🚨 FBI Flags Akira as a Top 5 Ransomware Variant Targeting U.S. Businesses The FBI now ranks Akira among the most dangerous ransomware variants — out of more than 130 currently active strains. It’s hitting U.S. businesses hard, with tactics that combine encryption, data theft, and extortion. 🔎 Key questions for carriers, brokers, and risk managers: • Are your insureds regularly conducting compromise assessments that detect ransomware behavior? • How are you quantifying residual cyber risk in light of evolving ransomware threats? • Is your underwriting model aligned with today’s threat landscape — not last year’s? Akira underscores what we already know: ransomware isn’t slowing down. And static assessments, check-the-box controls, and outdated loss models leave both clients and insurers exposed. It’s time to elevate the conversation — from cyber hygiene to true resilience. #cyberinsurance #ransomware #riskmanagement #Akira #insurtech #cyberresilience #carrierrisk #brokerstrategy

🚨 𝗡𝗬𝗗𝗙𝗦 𝗖𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: 𝗡𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟭, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱🚨 Financial institutions and businesses connected to New York, take note! Two major changes go into effect: 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗠𝗙𝗔 for anyone accessing information systems (with limited exceptions) 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 to document all information systems and critical assets 𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀: 🔹 Helps ensure stronger protection against breaches and phishing attacks 🔹 Demonstrates compliance with NYDFS regulations 🔹 Reduces operational, legal, and reputational risk 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲: 🔹 Review your current MFA implementation and asset tracking 🔹 Update policies and procedures to reflect new requirements 🔹 Train staff and prepare documentation for audits 🔗 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗴𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗲 on the changes and how to prepare: https://lnkd.in/e6g597sM **Attorney Advertisement** #TheBeckageFirm #CardinalStrong #ComplianceLaw #NYSRegulations #Cybersecurity

Nearly £200 million paid in #cyber claims to help UK businesses recover The ABI Data from firms participating in the ABI’s cyber data collection revealed a 230% year-on-year increase in the amount paid out to support businesses with cyber-attacks, £138 million more than in 2023. #Malware and #ransomware alone accounted for over half (51%) of all claims. This is up from a total of 32% of all claims in 2023, highlighting how increasingly sophisticated digital threats are causing more extensive damage, leading to higher payouts.  It also underscores the critical support insurance provides when such attacks halt business operations. https://lnkd.in/ePB4sVBf