CYBERCRIME CONTINUES
TO PLAGUE SMALL
BUSINESSES
the
Rea
report
EDITOR
Abbey Kanellakis
[email protected]
DESIGNER
Lynn Shimko
Shimko Design
REA REPORT
EDITORIAL BOARD
Lee Beall
Alex Bixler
Becky Boyd
Becca Davis
Alan Hill
Brad Martyn
Lesley Mast
Don McIntosh
Scott Moyer
Dustin Raber
Rebecca Weiand
Annie Yoder
2
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Ohio 44663-5120.
Cyberattacks on small busi-
nesses continue to increase,
according to a 2017 internet
security threat study con-
ducted by Symantec, a global
security and information man-
agement company. Furthermore,
ransomware now tops the list
of most significant threats facing
businesses and there are emerging
signs indicating that attackers may
be developing even more sophisticated
attacks, such as targeted ransomware at-
tacks on businesses involving the encryption
of multiple machines. Needless to say, you can’t
afford to let your guard down.
What’s At Risk
• The average ransom amount in 2016 was $1,077,
up from $294 in 2015.
• 463,000 ransomware detections were reported
in 2016, an increase of 36 percent.
• The daily rate of antivirus detections for ran-
somware increased to more than 1,539 a day.
• Ransomware is usually sent to users in the form
of spam emails that utilize a range of social en-
gineering tactics to lure recipients into opening
them and their attachments.