What percentage of ransomware attacks are targeted vs. opportunistic?

What percentage of ransomware attacks are targeted vs. opportunistic?

Ransomware attacks are becoming increasingly common, with a vast array of organizations and companies falling victim to these data-encrypting malware attacks. While some ransomware attacks are extremely targeted and thoroughly planned by cybercriminals, others are more opportunistic in nature. What percentage of ransomware attacks are targeted vs. opportunistic?

According to a recent report from Symantec, approximately 1 in 5 ransomware attacks are targeted, while the staying 4 out of 5 are opportunistic. This indicates that while a little minority of ransomware attacks are performed against specific organizations or people, the vast bulk are random attacks that benefit from vulnerabilities in systems and networks.

Targeted ransomware attacks are typically a lot more damaging than opportunistic attacks, as they are frequently performed by more sophisticated and experienced cybercriminals.  view itHome Page Additionally, targeted attacks are typically harder to defend against, as they are often tailored to exploit particular weaknesses in a target organization's systems.


While opportunistic ransomware attacks can be damaging, they are typically less expensive and disruptive than targeted attacks. Additionally, opportunistic attacks are typically more easily detected and avoided, as they often rely on known vulnerabilities that can be patched.

Organizations and people can help safeguard themselves from both targeted and opportunistic ransomware attacks by keeping up to date on security spots, utilizing strong security software application, and backing up data routinely.