Ransomware and Cyber Extortion: Response and Prevention

Chapter 4

The Crisis Begins!

Don’t panic when the crisis is happening or you won’t enjoy it.

—Fiachra Murphy, age 9

Learning Objectives

• Understand that cyber extortion is a crisis

• Recognize common signs of a cyber extortion attack, even at the earliest stages

• Identify who should be involved during a cyber extortion response

• Understand how to triage events to effectively prioritize response efforts

• Learn how to develop an effective response strategy and keep it updated

When you’re hit with a cyber extortion attack, every second counts. You need to immediately work to triage your response and develop your initial strategy.

Crises never play out exactly as responders expect. Adversaries routinely subject their victims to new and ever-changing ...