The threat from ransomware is increasing worldwide. Even and especially in times of working from home, doors are now opening for attackers into the IT infrastructure of companies that were already thought to be closed forever. But even public institutions or hospitals are not spared, as the months-long IT outage at Düsseldorf University Hospital shows. Although patches and security measures were implemented there to close a gap in a CITRIX appliance, the malware that had already been introduced remained undetected for a long time. But the amounts demanded are also steadily increasing.

Recent studies show that ransom payments are consistently in the six- and seven-figure range and are rising sharply. New variants such as the newcomer "Maze," whose creators demand an average ...