Ransomware’s Evolution: Targeting Human Vulnerabilities at Scale

Ransomware attacks are no longer about locking files and demanding payment. Cybercriminals have evolved, using speed, scale, and advanced tools to exploit human vulnerabilities like never before. These attacks don’t just rely on technology—they manipulate people, leveraging social engineering tactics like smishing, vishing, and AI-enabled OSINT (open-source intelligence) to deceive and infiltrate organizations.

Adding insult to injury, double extortion tactics are now the norm. Attackers not only encrypt data but also steal it, threatening to release sensitive information unless a ransom is paid. This tactic magnifies the impact, turning a breach into a devastating event with cascading consequences for trust, compliance, and operations.

For critical national infrastructure (CNI) companies, as well as small and midsize businesses (SMBs), this evolution represents an urgent call to action. Persistent advanced persistent threats (APTs) aren’t just targeting defense companies anymore—every organization must prepare for these multifaceted threats.

The Evolution of Ransomware Attacks

Today’s ransomware groups are more organized, sophisticated, and adaptive than ever. Using techniques refined by double extortion campaigns, attackers leverage:

• Smishing and Vishing: Text and voice-based phishing to target employees outside of email channels.
• AI-Enabled OSINT: Mining social media and publicly available data to craft personalized attacks that exploit trust.
• Thread-Jacking: Infiltrating legitimate email threads to blend in and gain credibility with unsuspecting employees.

These tactics bypass traditional defenses like external email banners or spam filters, exploiting the human vulnerabilities within an organization.

⚠️ Recent Examples of Double Extortion Attacks

1. FunkSec Ransomware Group (2024)
   Using AI to refine their tactics, FunkSec targeted 85 global organizations, employing double extortion techniques alongside smishing campaigns that deceived employees into granting access.

2. BlackSuit Ransomware at CDK Global (2024)
   By targeting a software provider critical to car dealerships, attackers disrupted operations and threatened to release exfiltrated data, exploiting employees' reliance on trusted communication chains.

3. Colonial Pipeline (2021)
   Although not recent, this infamous attack demonstrated how ransomware could paralyze operations and leverage human error to bypass initial defenses.

Why Traditional Approaches Are Failing

Throwing up external email banners or requiring once-a-year compliance training might check the box for regulatory requirements, but it leaves organizations exposed to the nuanced tactics of modern attackers. Employees remain vulnerable to:

• Emotional Manipulation: Creating urgency, fear, or trust to drive hasty decisions.
• Communication Blind Spots: Exploiting non-email channels like SMS or voice calls.
• Lack of Contextual Training: Generic, role-based training doesn’t account for the specific risks posed to high-target roles or departments.

💡 The Need for a Programmatic Approach to Human Risk

To effectively defend against ransomware and double extortion, organizations must take a programmatic approach to human risk management. This means moving beyond one-off training sessions to create a dynamic, adaptive strategy that includes:

1. Risk-Based Patterns and Exposure Mapping
   Identify which roles, departments, or regions are at the highest risk and tailor interventions accordingly.

2. Culturally Tuned Communications
   Deliver messages that resonate with employees’ cultural and behavioral contexts, making it easier for them to absorb and act on security advice.

3. Rapid Release Support
   Prepare for evolving threats with a library of pre-built, behavior-aligned communications that can be deployed at a moment’s notice.

4. Partnering for Scalability
   Consider working with a human risk provider to outsource content creation, delivery, and program management. This allows organizations to achieve more with fewer resources while maintaining a high standard of effectiveness.

Technology Alone Isn’t Enough

While technical defenses remain crucial, underinvesting in people leaves your organization vulnerable. Human vulnerabilities are the most likely entry point for attackers, and failing to address them gives cybercriminals an open door.

Organizations must shift their focus from reactive, technology-driven defenses to proactive, people-centered strategies. By investing in a robust human risk program, companies can stay ahead of the evolving ransomware landscape, ensuring their defenses are as adaptable and innovative as the attackers themselves.

The Path Forward

Double extortion ransomware attacks aren’t going anywhere—and neither are the human vulnerabilities they exploit. The time to act is now. Invest in culture, awareness, and engagement, and build a program that empowers employees to recognize, resist, and respond to advanced threats.

At Cybermaniacs, we specialize in helping organizations create resilient human risk programs that adapt to the latest threats. Whether it’s streamlining your training strategy, enhancing employee engagement, or aligning your program to your organization’s unique needs, we can help you succeed.

Let’s talk about building a better defense. [Link]