With the threat of cyber attacks ever increasing in the modern business world, companies have to be on the lookout at all times for security vulnerabilities in their systems. It’s no longer enough to assign tech troubleshooting to your regular staff members—you need a robust cybersecurity plan implemented by professionals to ensure your data stays safe.

In fact, cyber attacks (especially those related to advanced ransomware) are estimated to cost upwards of $5.2 trillion globally between 2019 and 2023, meaning that the risk of an attack is almost inevitable—and costly—if your business doesn’t prioritize cybersecurity. 

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg: As of recently, ransomware criminals have taken cyber crime to an entirely new level that could ruin businesses altogether. One gang has actually done what many have threatened in the past to do—publish their victims’ private data if a ransom is not paid.

The Maze Ransomware Gang Has Breached New Cyberattack Territory

According to recent reports, the gang of ransomware criminals behind the Maze Ransomware strain have created a public website that ousts their victim companies who chose to rebuild their operations rather than pay up on the ransom. 

The site exploits eight different companies who were attacked by the Maze Ransomware infestation. The site has published the initial date of each attack, the volume of data stolen from each company, several Microsoft Office and PDF files, and the IP addresses affected by Maze. It has been verified that at least one of the companies listed on the site was, in fact, affected by Maze and has not yet reported the breach to the media.

The site reads in broken English, “Represented here companies dont wish to cooperate with us, and trying to hide our successful attack on their resources . . . Wait for their databases and private papers here.”

What This Means for Businesses Nationwide

According to experts, this somewhat mind-boggling development in cybercrime has been threatened for years. Cyber criminals have long warned victims that their stolen data would be publicly released if a ransom was not paid—this is just the first recorded case of it actually occurring. And now that it has, businesses must approach cybersecurity within even more caution than ever before.

With news like this, it has become critical to protect against ransomware attacks or else risk dealing with the repercussions of a data breach. Companies no longer have to worry only about losing thousands of dollars to ransomware threat actors—they now need to be concerned about private data being exposed to the public. 

These kinds of modern ransomware attacks could mean breaches of epic proportions that lead to total loss of customer or client trust as well as a ruined reputation. At this point, cybersecurity to protect against ransomware should be the top priority for modern businesses going into 2020.

How Mentis Group Can Help

If you’re in need of a more comprehensive cybersecurity defense that protects against sophisticated ransomware threats, contact our experts at Mentis Group today. 

We prioritize modern cybersecurity and understanding the latest forms of ransomware that put your systems at risk. We understand that your business depends on well-maintained and robust cybersecurity, and that’s exactly what you can expect when you partner with Mentis Group.