Google's Threat Intelligence Group Reports Shift in Ransomware Tactics Toward Data Extortion

Google’s Threat Intelligence Group released a research report on ransomware activity from the previous year, highlighting a shift in cybercrime tactics toward direct data extortion rather than traditional ransomware encryption. The report underscores an evolution in the ransomware economy, complicating efforts to measure its full impact and scale. No specific technical details, numbers, or dates beyond the general timeframe were provided in the summary. The findings reflect broader trends in cybercrime, particularly the increasing focus on data theft as a primary extortion method. The research was conducted by Google’s Threat Intelligence Group, which includes Mandiant.