Ransomware is malicious software that blocks access to files, systems, or networks and demands payment. Some operators also steal data and threaten to publish it, so restoring encrypted files may not resolve every part of an incident. Attacks can begin through exposed systems, exploited vulnerabilities, compromised credentials, phishing, or social engineering; no single safeguard addresses them all.
What is ransomware?
The FBI defines ransomware as malicious software that prevents access to files, systems, or networks and demands a ransom. An attack may disrupt a single device or affect connected systems across an organization.
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Some operations use “double extortion”: attackers steal data and threaten to publish it in addition to encrypting files. In July 2025, a joint advisory about Interlock described actors exfiltrating victim data before encrypting systems. An August 2026 update on Medusa likewise described encryption paired with threatened publication. These are documented tactics for specific operations, not a formula that applies to every incident.
CISA, the FBI, and HHS reported that Medusa actors had more than 500 victims as of April 2026 across multiple named critical-infrastructure sectors. That figure describes this operation and its reporting scope; it is not a count of ransomware victims worldwide.
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How do ransomware attacks get in?
There is no single entry route. CISA’s #StopRansomware guidance groups prevention around common initial-access paths and emphasizes scanning for vulnerabilities, particularly on internet-facing devices. Official advisories document several routes:
- Exposed or vulnerable services: Attackers may exploit internet-facing systems that are unpatched or insufficiently protected. Remote services such as Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) should not be exposed directly to the internet without appropriate compensating controls.
- Compromised or brokered credentials: An attacker may use stolen login details or acquire access through a broker. The August 2026 Medusa update described brokered access among the routes observed in that operation.
- Phishing: A deceptive message can be used to trick someone into opening a malicious attachment, visiting a harmful link, or disclosing credentials. Phishing was among the access routes reported in the Medusa update.
- Drive-by downloads and social engineering: The July 2025 Interlock advisory described drive-by downloads from compromised legitimate websites and a “ClickFix” technique that tricks a person into executing a malicious payload.
These examples show why defenses should cover both technical exposure and human-targeted deception. An incident report about a named group documents observed methods at a particular time; it does not establish a complete ranking of current attack routes.
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Which vulnerabilities do ransomware groups exploit?
Attackers can take advantage of flaws in systems reachable from the internet, especially when a fix is available but has not been applied. The practical priority is not simply to patch the oldest flaw or the vulnerability with the most attention-grabbing severity score. Exposure and evidence of exploitation matter too.
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A June 2025 Play advisory reported that multiple ransomware groups—including initial-access brokers with ties to Play operators—exploited CVE-2024-57727 in the SimpleHelp remote monitoring and management tool after the vulnerability was disclosed. This is a specific example, not a current inventory of exploited flaws. Check current official advisories before making decisions about live vulnerabilities, since both attacker activity and patch status change.
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For vulnerability management, maintain an inventory of internet-facing assets, scan them regularly, and prioritize known exploited vulnerabilities and exposed services for remediation. Remove services that are not needed, and restrict remote access rather than assuming that a system is safe because it is behind a login screen.
Which defenses address the main risks?
Each control has a different job. Layer them so that a failure in one area does not automatically give an attacker unrestricted access, movement, or leverage.
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| Control area | What it helps address | Practical action |
|---|---|---|
| Exposure reduction | Known flaws and unnecessary internet-facing services | Inventory public-facing assets, scan for vulnerabilities, patch based on risk and known exploitation, and disable services that are not required. |
| Identity protection | Stolen or misused credentials | Require multifactor authentication (MFA) where possible, especially for remote access and accounts that can reach critical systems. Apply access controls so accounts have only the access they need. |
| Containment | An intruder moving from one device or network area to another | Segment networks and constrain remote-service traffic so a compromised device cannot freely reach other systems. |
| Recovery preparation | Loss of access to data or systems | Back up data regularly, verify that jobs complete, protect backup copies from the systems they back up, and maintain and test a restoration plan. |
| Detection and response | Suspicious activity and an unfolding incident | Use appropriate endpoint and network monitoring, preserve useful incident information, and establish who will coordinate response and reporting. |
These measures reduce different risks; none guarantees that an incident cannot occur. CISA and joint agency advisories recommend layered safeguards rather than relying on one product or control.
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A backup is useful only if it contains the needed data and can be restored. The FBI advises keeping backup copies disconnected from the systems they protect when they are not in use. A permanently connected copy may be exposed if an attacker gains access to the environment.
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- Run backups regularly. Set a schedule that fits how often important files and systems change.
- Confirm the jobs completed. Check backup status rather than assuming that a scheduled job succeeded.
- Keep a copy disconnected when idle. Separate backup copies from the systems they protect when they are not being used.
- Test restoration. Practice recovering data and systems so you can identify missing files, access problems, or an incomplete recovery process before an emergency.
- Include recovery in continuity planning. Decide how essential work will continue while systems are being restored.
A disconnected external drive can serve as one backup destination, but possessing a drive does not establish that backups are complete or recoverable. Plan for appropriate additional copies and test the restoration process.
What should you do if ransomware hits?
Prioritize an organized response: preserve useful information, coordinate technical and business recovery, and report the incident through appropriate channels. The FBI and IC3 are reporting options identified in FBI ransomware guidance; relevant joint advisories also list CISA and sector-specific reporting channels. Organizations should use the channels applicable to their sector and circumstances.
Do not assume that paying will restore files or resolve a data-theft threat. The FBI states: “The FBI does not support paying a ransom in response to a ransomware attack.” Its guidance says payment does not guarantee data recovery and may encourage perpetrators to target additional victims. This is FBI guidance, not a claim that every incident has identical circumstances.
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