Kaspersky's recent Threat Landscape 2024 report reveals a staggering 1,185,242 ransomware attacks blocked in Latin America from June 2023 to July 2024, marking a 2.8% increase from the previous year. Mexico alone accounted for 285,400 blocked attacks, averaging 781 per day.
The report highlights that Mexico, following Brazil, is among the most targeted countries in the region, experiencing a 165% increase in attacks compared to the prior year. Ecuador and Colombia follow closely behind.
One of the most prevalent ransomware families identified is 'Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Blocker,' which compromises victims' computers, rendering their data inaccessible and demanding ransom for recovery.
Fabio Assolini, Kaspersky's Global Research and Analysis Team director for Latin America, expressed concern over the rising ransomware threats, emphasizing the financial and reputational damages to businesses. He urged for intensified preventive measures against increasingly sophisticated cybercriminal tactics.
Notably, the report also mentions the disruption of the LockBit group, known for extorting companies by threatening to leak confidential data. This group was impacted by international law enforcement agencies, including the UK's National Crime Agency and the FBI, leading to a message on previously hijacked websites stating they are now under law enforcement control.
Despite international efforts to combat these cyber threats, Assolini warns that cybercriminals remain resourceful, continuously evolving their tactics. He advises businesses to maintain updated software, focus on lateral movement detection, implement offline backups, activate ransomware protection on all endpoints, and utilize advanced threat detection solutions.