Events , Fraud Management & Cybercrime , Infosecurity Europe Conference

Ransomware Goes Pro, Warns Expert

WithSecure's Tim West on Ransomware Sophistication, Hacktivism and Role of AI
Tim West, director, threat intelligence and outreach, WithSecure

The ransomware industry has matured. Tim West, director of threat intelligence at WithSecure, warned about the modern ransomware ecosystem, which features an established marketplace of tools and services that can be used in ransomware attacks. This relatively recent development, he said, has lowered the bar for attackers, enabling them to operate more efficiently.

See Also: Corelight's Brian Dye on NDR's Role in Defeating Ransomware

Hacktivism is also on the rise but often serves as a cover for state operations, creating a significant impact on the cyberthreat landscape, he said. "Their goal isn't always necessarily to disrupt an organization. It's to build a message," he said. Meanwhile, nation-state attackers often maintain "plausible deniability," which enables them to "target smaller or midmarket organizations," West said.

In this video interview with Information Security Media Group at Infosecurity Europe 2024, West also discussed:

  • The difficulties organizations face in patching vulnerabilities;
  • The concerning rise in hacktivism linked to geopolitical conflicts;
  • The dual role of AI in enhancing both offensive and defensive cyber capabilities.

West is an expert in threat modeling, threat intelligence and analysis. Prior to WithSecure, he worked as a cyberthreat intelligence analyst in the U.K. Civil Service.


About the Author

Mathew J. Schwartz

Mathew J. Schwartz

Executive Editor, DataBreachToday & Europe, ISMG

Schwartz is an award-winning journalist with two decades of experience in magazines, newspapers and electronic media. He has covered the information security and privacy sector throughout his career. Before joining Information Security Media Group in 2014, where he now serves as the executive editor, DataBreachToday and for European news coverage, Schwartz was the information security beat reporter for InformationWeek and a frequent contributor to DarkReading, among other publications. He lives in Scotland.




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