How Ransomware Attacks Work — And How to Stop Them
5 min read · February 2025 · By IntrusionX Security Team
Ransomware is one of the most destructive forms of cybercrime targeting Australian businesses and households today. In 2023–24, the Australian Signals Directorate received over 94,000 cybercrime reports — and ransomware accounted for a significant share of the most financially damaging incidents.
What Is Ransomware?
Ransomware is malicious software that encrypts your files — documents, databases, photos, financial records — making them completely inaccessible. The attacker then demands a ransom payment (typically in cryptocurrency) in exchange for a decryption key. Payment, however, does not guarantee recovery.
How a Ransomware Attack Unfolds
1. Initial Access
Attackers gain entry through a phishing email, compromised password, exposed Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) port, or an unpatched software vulnerability. This is often the easiest part — most organisations have at least one weak entry point.
2. Persistence & Lateral Movement
Once inside, the attacker moves quietly through your network, escalating privileges and identifying the most valuable data. This phase can last days or weeks without detection.
3. Data Exfiltration
Before encrypting, many attackers steal your data first. This enables double extortion — pay the ransom to decrypt your files, or they publish your confidential data publicly.
4. Encryption
The ransomware payload deploys, encrypting files across every connected device simultaneously. Within minutes, your entire operation can be paralysed.
5. Ransom Demand
A note appears demanding payment — typically tens of thousands to millions of dollars. Deadlines are set, pressure is applied, and a countdown timer starts.
How to Protect Against Ransomware
How IntrusionX Stops Ransomware
Our endpoint protection combines AI-driven behavioural detection with 24/7 SOC monitoring to identify and contain ransomware before it can encrypt a single file. Automated isolation quarantines infected endpoints in seconds — stopping lateral spread immediately.
Our ransomware rollback capability can restore affected files to their pre-attack state even when encryption does occur — minimising downtime to minutes rather than days.