Rising Data Thefts via Ransomware a 'Worrying' Development, Dutch DPA Warns
The number of data thefts by cybercriminals nearly doubled in 2024 and organizational countermeasures, though improved, remain worryingly vulnerable, the Dutch Data Protection Authority reported Thursday in an annual overview of cyber activity in the Netherlands.
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Data theft often happens in cyberattacks via ransomware, the DPA noted. While organizations are increasingly preparing for such attacks by backing up data, hackers are adjusting their tactics accordingly, often copying the hacked datasets and threatening to sell or publish them if they're not paid.
This is "a worrying trend," the regulator said. It estimated there were at least 112 successful ransomware attacks last year, with companies shelling out, on average, more than 100,000 euros ($118,000) to hire cyber experts and related personnel.
The watchdog urged organizations to ensure their ICT security is in order, make careful handling of data part of their organizational culture and put the subject at the "heart of the board agenda."