Surge in Ransomware Attacks Without Encryption: The Rise of "Pure Exfiltration" Threats

A growing trend of ransomware attacks without encryption, known as "pure exfiltration," is targeting businesses by stealing sensitive data without encrypting it. These attacks exploit unpatched vulnerabilities or compromised access to extract information before demanding a ransom under the threat of data leaks. Victims often only detect the intrusion after the data has been disclosed. The most affected sectors include healthcare, finance, and critical infrastructure. Attackers use tools like Cobalt Strike or living-off-the-land techniques to evade detection. The primary impacts are the loss of confidential data and risks of regulatory compliance violations (GDPR, HIPAA).