Security News > 2021 > December > Why ransomware attacks happen out of hours or during the holidays
This gives them the chance to inflict maximum damage, and explains why ransomware attacks surge on public holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
These out of hours attacks aren't just bad luck; they're designed that way.
Interestingly, the largest rise in attempted ransomware attacks is between Christmas and New Year's when attackers know there will be fewer eyeballs on screens defending against threats.
Less than two months later, the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency released an advisory warning organizations to be especially wary of attacks over the holidays and weekends.
The agency, along with the FBI, had seen a marked rise in ransomware attacks at these times, it said, warning companies that Labor Day was coming up.
Many earlier ransomware attacks would detonate immediately on infection, presumably in the hope that they could execute before the infection was found.
News URL
https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2021/12/16/out_of_hours_ransomware_attacks/
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