Ransomware threats have been increasing exponentially over the past few years, and it looks like Microsoft devices are being targeted more than ever. According to a new report from cybersecurity researchers Securin, Ivanti, and Cyware, more than 7,000 products built by 121 vendors are now at risk of being compromised with ransomware. Microsoft products, as seen as targets of 135 different vulnerabilities, are of particular concern.
Among the 135 vulnerabilities, 18 of the more serious ones have yet to be flagged by antivirus programs. This is a worrying sign for businesses, as most security breaches go unreported, making the actual tally of incidents higher than recorded. In the first quarter of 2021, the researchers uncovered 12 separate vulnerabilities being used in ransomware attacks, with 73% of them popular on the dark web.
Open source products like software have not been spared either, with ransomware groups targeting more than 119 exploitable flaws. AI is now being used as well and the ransomware threat is expected to become even more dangerous in the next few months. Srinivas Mukkamala, Chief Product Officer at Ivanti, warned that when AI is used on a much larger scale, these attacks may become more devastating and difficult to contain.
Ivanti is a technology company providing IT solutions to business and government clients to help them simplify the way they manage their environments. The company provides asset, patch, and software management systems, as well as endpoint security, security operations and analytics solutions.
Srinivas Mukkamala is the Chief Product Officer of Ivanti, where he is responsible for product strategy, research and development, product management, operations, and customer success. He has 17+ years of experience in product development, product management, and engineering. With a passion for building great products, Srinivas has built teams and led initiatives for various global organizations focused on creating successful customer experiences.