A new report from the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) reveals alarming trends in ransomware attacks targeting Australian businesses over the past year.
Surveying 331 ransomware victims, the study found that more than half of business owners faced multiple threats from cybercriminals demanding payment. Businesses were more likely than individuals to pay, with over 20% making a payment in their most recent attack and more than 40% having paid in previous incidents, increasing the risk of repeat targeting.
Around one in three victims were threatened with having their data stolen or shared online, highlighting the serious financial and operational risks. “Aside from the financial impact, ransomware can see businesses losing all of their important records, including customer data,” said AIC Deputy Director Dr Rick Brown. “It’s important that we understand the nature of these attacks as they are becoming more targeted, frequent and harmful.”
Ransomware attacks take various forms, including phishing emails, stolen credentials, password cracking, infected websites, and malware spreading across devices. Notably, over half of the surveyed business owners could not recall clicking on any suspicious links, underscoring the need for constant vigilance.
The Australian Cyber Security Centre urges businesses never to pay ransoms and to follow official advice to contain attacks. For support, businesses can contact the 24/7 Australian Cyber Security Hotline on 1300 292 371 or report scams via ReportCyber.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
