?? Technical Deep-Dive: Ransomware Attacks – Execution, Impact, and Defense

?? What is Ransomware?

Ransomware is a type of malicious software designed to block access to a system or data by encrypting files until a ransom is paid, usually in cryptocurrency.

? How Does a Ransomware Attack Get Executed? (Attack Lifecycle)

Step-by-Step Execution Flow:

1. Initial Access (Infection Vector)
2. Payload Delivery
3. Command & Control (C2) Communication
4. Lateral Movement
5. Data Encryption / Exfiltration
6. Ransom Demand

?? Why is this Happening? (Technical Reasons)

• Misconfigurations Weak or default RDP passwords Open SMB shares Disabled or misconfigured firewalls No patch management Lack of EDR/AV solutions
• Social Engineering Employees clicking on phishing emails
• Insider Threats Deliberate or accidental aid to attackers

?? How to Validate Misconfiguration or Technical Glitches in Your Environment

?? Backend Technologies / Protocols Hackers Use

?? What Does a Ransomware Attack Look Like?

• Sudden file extensions change (.locky, .crypt, .encrypted)
• Files are inaccessible
• A ransom note appears
• Desktop wallpaper changes
• CPU and disk usage spikes
• Communication attempts to unknown IPs/domains

?? Known Ransomware Versions / Families

?? Impact on Infrastructure

? Proactive Defense and Approaches

Technical Controls:

• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
• Patch Management Programs
• Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR)
• Disable unused ports (3389/RDP, 445/SMB)
• Least Privilege Principle (LAPS for admin accounts)
• Backup and Disaster Recovery Strategy (3-2-1 Rule)
• Regular Penetration Testing & Vulnerability Scans
• User Awareness & Phishing Simulations
• DNS Filtering and Network Segmentation
• Log Monitoring and SIEM

Policy Controls:

• Incident Response Plan
• Regular Ransomware Table-Top Exercises
• Cyber Insurance Consideration
• Vendor / Supply Chain Risk Assessment

?? Most Dangerous Ransomware Variants in 2024

?? Ransomware Attack Flow Diagram

+-----------------+

| Initial Access |

| (Phishing/RDP) |

+--------+--------+

|

v

+--------+--------+

| Malware Delivered|

| (Downloader/DLL) |

+--------+--------+

|

v

+--------+--------+

| Command & Ctrl |

| (DNS/HTTPS) |

+--------+--------+

|

v

+--------+--------+

| Lateral Movement|

| (SMB/PSExec) |

+--------+--------+

|

v

+--------+--------+

| Credential Theft|

| (Mimikatz) |

+--------+--------+

|

v

+--------+--------+

| Data Exfiltration|

+--------+--------+

|

v

+--------+--------+

| File Encryption |

+--------+--------+

|

v

+--------+--------+

| Ransom Demand |

+-----------------+

?? Final Thoughts

Ransomware is not "if" but "when"—Preparation is key.

?? Your defense lies in:

• Proactive validation of your IT configurations
• Continuous monitoring and incident readiness
• Layered security with EDR, MFA, Backup, and User Training