Cybercrime continues to grow at a rate beyond anybody’s expectations. RDP (remote desk protocol) attacks have skyrocketed 330% during the COVID-19 pandemic according to data collected and analyzed by Atlas VPN. Their data reveals that from March 10, 2020, through April 15, hackers carried out 32,299,662 RDP brute-force attacks in the United States. On average, there were 872,964 attacks each day!
An RDP attack is when criminals look for unsecured RDP services to exploit by installing ransomware, crypto-mining tools, keyloggers, backdoors, and other malware on network systems. Attackers use RDP services to establish a foothold on a network, to elevate privileges, harvest credentials, to move laterally inside a compromised environment, and to plant false flags for misdirection purposes.
The rise of remote working due to the coronavirus and the enforced quarantines has given rise to outsourcing, and cloud-based technologies. This has forced many organizations to rely upon RDP to support these new types of working arrangements.
Tonya Ugortez, Deputy Assistant Director for the FBI Cyber Division, said that new digital dependency had increased the vulnerability to cyberattacks and, “it is estimated that one such attack takes place every 39 seconds.” The United Nations disarmament chief said that while the pandemic is increasing technological innovation and online collaboration, “cybercrime is also on the rise, with a 600 percent increase in malicious emails during the current crisis.”
While you take every precaution to avoid an attack, there are no guarantees that a sophisticated cybercriminal will not infect your system. One valuable resource that mitigates your risk is Cybersecurity Insurance. The Charles Leach Agency has been creating customized insurance programs to safeguard its clients’ lives and assets for over 80 years. Take action to stay safe by calling 1-888-275-3224.