Ransom attacks could invalidate US election
26. August 2020Ransom attacks could invalidate US election
New York, August 26, 2020
Unsecured Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) endpoints are the most popular targets for ransom attackers, followed by email phishing and virtual private networks. Ransom attackers targeting enterprises reached an all-time high in the first half of 2020.
The number of RDP ports exposed to the Internet rose from 3 million in January to more than 4.5 million in March. In the second quarter of 2020, ransom attacks split between large targets and ransom-as-a-service attacks on small businesses.
Election officials are concerned that a ransom attack could be used as part of a disinformation campaign to cast doubt on the U.S. election, according to Recorded Future.
