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Threat Brief: Why Ransomware Hurts So Much and Is So Hard to Stop ![Clock Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-clock.svg) 3 min read * ![Profile Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-profile-grey.svg) By: * [Unit 42](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/author/unit42/) * ![Published Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-calendar-grey.svg) Published:November 13, 2017 * ![Tags Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-category.svg) Categories: * [High Profile Threats](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/top-cyberthreats/) * [Ransomware](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/ransomware/) * ![Tags Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-tags-grey.svg) Tags: * [2 minute threat brief](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/2-minute-threat-brief/) * [![Download Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-download.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/threat-brief-ransomware-hurts-much-hard-stop/?pdf=download&lg=en&_wpnonce=edee969a51 "Click here to download") * [![Print Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-print.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/threat-brief-ransomware-hurts-much-hard-stop/?pdf=print&lg=en&_wpnonce=edee969a51 "Click here to print") Share![Down arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/down-arrow.svg) * ![Link Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-share-link.svg) * [![Link Email](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-sms.svg)](mailto:?subject=Threat%20Brief:%20Why%20Ransomware%20Hurts%20So%20Much%20and%20Is%20So%20Hard%20to%20Stop&body=Check%20out%20this%20article%20https%3A%2F%2Funit42.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fthreat-brief-ransomware-hurts-much-hard-stop%2F "Share in email") * [![Facebook Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-fb-share.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Funit42.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fthreat-brief-ransomware-hurts-much-hard-stop%2F "Share in Facebook") * [![LinkedIn Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-linkedin-share.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Funit42.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fthreat-brief-ransomware-hurts-much-hard-stop%2F&title=Threat%20Brief:%20Why%20Ransomware%20Hurts%20So%20Much%20and%20Is%20So%20Hard%20to%20Stop "Share in LinkedIn") * [![Twitter Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-twitter-share.svg)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Funit42.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fthreat-brief-ransomware-hurts-much-hard-stop%2F&text=Threat%20Brief:%20Why%20Ransomware%20Hurts%20So%20Much%20and%20Is%20So%20Hard%20to%20Stop "Share in Twitter") * [![Reddit Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-reddit-share.svg)](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com//www.reddit.com/submit?url=https%3A%2F%2Funit42.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fthreat-brief-ransomware-hurts-much-hard-stop%2F&ts=markdown "Share in Reddit") * [![Mastodon Icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-mastodon-share.svg)](https://mastodon.social/share?text=Threat%20Brief:%20Why%20Ransomware%20Hurts%20So%20Much%20and%20Is%20So%20Hard%20to%20Stop%20https%3A%2F%2Funit42.paloaltonetworks.com%2Fthreat-brief-ransomware-hurts-much-hard-stop%2F "Share in Mastodon") In our updated report on ransomware from Unit 42, "[Ransomware: Unlocking the Lucrative Criminal Business Model](https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/resources/research/ransomware-report)," Unit 42 researcher Bryan Lee notes: "In 2016, it was thought that there were less than one hundred active ransomware variants out in the wild. Today, the number of total ransomware variants at least over 150, if not hundreds more." It's reasonable to ask why ransomware continues not only to exist but to thrive. The first answer to this, as we've outlined in our report, is that ransomware is a lucrative cybercriminal business model. However, in addition to the human factor, there are technical reasons. Specifically, there are three things that combine to make ransomware a particularly potent threat on the technical level: 1. Ransomware very effectively exploits the total trust the Microsoft Windows operating system places in the user. 2. Ransomware specifically targets file types and locations that are valuable to users.. 3. Ransomware operates quickly, thwarting post-compromise tools for response In some ways, these three points state the obvious. But the full ramifications and why these make ransomware hard to stop aren't always discussed. The way ransomware works is well documented, but let's recap here. Ransomware is downloaded to a user's system and executed on it. The way the attackers get the ransomware on the system varies: it can be through unpatched vulnerabilities, social engineering or both. The most common way ransomware operators levy attacks is through email or by web browsing to malicious or compromised sites. The overwhelming majority of ransomware attacks are against Microsoft Windows systems. Once malware is running on the user's system, it seeks out and encrypts files and folders that hold information critical for the user, such as documents, business applications or even database files. In some cases, the ransomware is sophisticated enough to target specific application files. Most importantly, because the ransomware is executing with the compromised user's privileges, any file the legitimate, now-compromised user has access to, including network shares and backups, is fair game for the ransomware. It's this last point that gets to the heart of why ransomware is so potent. From an operating system point of view, the ransomware IS the user. Even though Microsoft Windows today features a robust user access control system, that system has inherent limitations. In the early days of Window Vista, Microsoft enabled aggressive security checking to ensure user-initiated actions were legitimate. This was well-intentioned but ultimately backfired: users got fed up clicking "Are you sure?" dialog boxes and quickly disabled the feature, or just mindlessly clicked "OK" every time they saw it. Microsoft made reasonable adjustments so that these alerts are now raised sparingly. Although that feature was never enabled to protect user data files like ransomware targets, there is a clear lesson from the experience: too many security checks on user activity fails in the end. Bringing that lesson to bear here, the only way the operating system could protect against ransomware would be to raise "Are you sure?" dialog boxes on everyday operations against the kinds of files that ransomware targets. And this is where the second point comes to bear. Unlike other forms of malware, ransomware is very specific in its targeting. It goes after the files users are most likely to care about. These also happen to be files users are most likely to use on a day-to-day basis or that are critical to an organization's operations. Extra layers of protection for those files would be incredibly onerous. Imagine having to click through "Are you sure?" dialog boxes for every document or picture you opened in a day. From an engineering point of view, this sole, specific targeting of files that matter significantly increases the chances of ransomware's success. This brings us to the third point: there is little attack time wasted on files that don't matter to the victim. Even a successful ransomware attack that is halted early by security software will achieve some level of damage -- enough to make the victim consider paying the ransom to get the files back. If user32.dll were encrypted and unusable, it would be a problem. But when your organization's overall accounting and audit report is inaccessible right before the big deadline, that's catastrophic. The net of these three points is that ransomware is a threat such that focus needs to be placed solely around prevention. There is no effective solution for ransomware at the operating system level, as outlined above. And unlike other attacks, ransomware attacks can't succeed "just a little." In some cases, a single file lost is more than enough to count as a fully successful attack. In some ways, ransomware is a threat unlike any other. Its impact and scope are both broad and deep in ways that are unique. Because of that, from a risk assessment point of view, ransomware needs to be put in a class by itself -- a class that acknowledges that the risks from a successful attack of any kind are very high. Back to top ### Tags * [2 minute threat brief](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/2-minute-threat-brief/ "2 minute threat brief") [Threat Research Center](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com "Threat Research") [Next: New Malware with Ties to SunOrcal Discovered](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42-new-malware-with-ties-to-sunorcal-discovered/ "New Malware with Ties to SunOrcal Discovered") ### Related Articles * [Threat Brief: Why You Need to Be Careful of Links in Email](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42-threat-brief-need-careful-links-email/ "article - table of contents") * [2 Minute Threat Brief: Expanding Targets for New SunOrcal Malware Variant](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit42-2-minute-threat-brief-expanding-targets-new-sunorcal-malware-variant/ "article - table of contents") * [2 Minute Threat Brief: Browser Cryptocurrency Mining](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/2-minute-threat-brief-browser-cryptocurrency-mining/ "article - table of contents") ## Related Ransomware Resources ![Pictorial representation of Iran cyber attacks. Close-up of a person wearing glasses, with computer code reflected in the lenses.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/12_Security-Technology_Category_1920x900-786x368.jpg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/top-threats.svg)High Profile Threats](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/top-cyberthreats/) April 17, 2026 [#### Threat Brief: Escalation of Cyber Risk Related to Iran (Updated April 17)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/iranian-cyberattacks-2026/) * [APK](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/apk/ "APK") * [DDoS attacks](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/ddos-attacks/ "DDoS attacks") * [GenAI](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/genai/ "GenAI") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/iranian-cyberattacks-2026/ "Threat Brief: Escalation of Cyber Risk Related to Iran (Updated April 17)") ![Pictorial representation of RaaS RansomHouse. Digital representation of cybersecurity concept with a padlock superimposed over computer circuit boards, symbolizing data protection and encryption technologies.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/06_Ransomware_Category_1920x900-786x368.jpg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/icon-threat-research.svg)Threat Research](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/threat-research/) December 17, 2025 [#### From Linear to Complex: An Upgrade in RansomHouse Encryption](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/ransomhouse-encryption-upgrade/) * [ESXi](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/esxi/ "ESXi") * [Jolly Scorpius](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/jolly-scorpius/ "Jolly Scorpius") * [RansomHouse](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/ransomhouse/ "RansomHouse") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/ransomhouse-encryption-upgrade/ "From Linear to Complex: An Upgrade in RansomHouse Encryption") ![Pictorial representation of 01flip ransomware written in Rust. Digital artwork of a pixelated U.S. dollar bill disintegrating into small blocks against a blue data matrix background.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/05_Ransomware_Category_1920x900-786x368.jpg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/icon-threat-research.svg)Threat Research](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/threat-research/) December 10, 2025 [#### 01flip: Multi-Platform Ransomware Written in Rust](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/new-ransomware-01flip-written-in-rust/) * [Bitcoin](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/bitcoin/ "Bitcoin") * [CL-CRI-103](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/cl-cri-103/ "CL-CRI-103") * [Cryptocurrency](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/cryptocurrency/ "Cryptocurrency") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/new-ransomware-01flip-written-in-rust/ "01flip: Multi-Platform Ransomware Written in Rust") ![Pictorial representation of malicious LLMs. Close-up view of a digital wall displaying various glowing icons, representing a high-tech network interface.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/AdobeStock_1270203474-786x440.jpeg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/icon-threat-research.svg)Threat Research](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/threat-research/) November 25, 2025 [#### The Dual-Use Dilemma of AI: Malicious LLMs](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/dilemma-of-ai-malicious-llms/) * [Credential Harvesting](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/credential-harvesting/ "Credential Harvesting") * [Data exfiltration](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/data-exfiltration/ "data exfiltration") * [LLM](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/llm/ "LLM") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/dilemma-of-ai-malicious-llms/ "The Dual-Use Dilemma of AI: Malicious LLMs") ![Constellation image representing the constellation schema used by Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 to track nation-state and cybercrime threat actor groups](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Generic-B-1920x900-1-786x368.png) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/threat-actor-groups.svg)Threat Actor Groups](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/threat-actor-groups/) August 1, 2025 [#### Threat Actor Groups Tracked by Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 (Updated Aug. 1, 2025)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/threat-actor-groups-tracked-by-palo-alto-networks-unit-42/) * [Academic Serpens](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/academic-serpens/ "Academic Serpens") * [Agent Serpens](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/agent-serpens/ "Agent Serpens") * [Agonizing Serpens](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/agonizing-serpens/ "Agonizing Serpens") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/threat-actor-groups-tracked-by-palo-alto-networks-unit-42/ "Threat Actor Groups Tracked by Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 (Updated Aug. 1, 2025)") ![Pictorial representation of Unit 42 threat attribution system. Illustration featuring a white triangle centered within an abstract cosmic background of purple and blue swirls and stars.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Generic-A-1920x900-1-786x368.png) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/threat-actor-groups.svg)Threat Actor Groups](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/threat-actor-groups/) July 31, 2025 [#### Introducing Unit 42's Attribution Framework](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit-42-attribution-framework/) * [Advanced Persistent Threat](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/advanced-persistent-threat/ "Advanced Persistent Threat") * [Bookworm](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/bookworm/ "Bookworm") * [Nomenclature](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/nomenclature/ "nomenclature") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/unit-42-attribution-framework/ "Introducing Unit 42’s Attribution Framework") ![Pictorial representation of the ransomware landscape. Digital artwork of a disintegrating U.S. dollar bill with pixelated effects on a cyber-inspired background.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/05_Ransomware_Category_1920x900-786x368.jpg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/icon-report-white-1.svg)Trend Reports](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/trend-reports/) April 23, 2025 [#### Extortion and Ransomware Trends January-March 2025](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/2025-ransomware-extortion-trends/) * [BianLian](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/bianlian/ "BianLian") * [Akira ransomware](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/akira-ransomware/ "Akira ransomware") * [Muddled Libra](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/muddled-libra/ "Muddled Libra") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/2025-ransomware-extortion-trends/ "Extortion and Ransomware Trends January-March 2025") ![A pictorial representation of Akira ransomware, distributed by Howling Scorpius. A person's hand typing on a keyboard with a digital screen displaying the word "password" highlighted in blue, set against a backdrop of various cybersecurity interface graphics.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/09_Cybercrime_Category_1920x900-786x368.jpg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/top-threats.svg)High Profile Threats](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/top-cyberthreats/) December 2, 2024 [#### Threat Assessment: Howling Scorpius (Akira Ransomware)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/threat-assessment-howling-scorpius-akira-ransomware/) * [Howling Scorpius](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/howling-scorpius/ "Howling Scorpius") * [Leak site](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/leak-site/ "Leak site") * [Torrenting](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/torrenting/ "torrenting") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/threat-assessment-howling-scorpius-akira-ransomware/ "Threat Assessment: Howling Scorpius (Akira Ransomware)") ![Pictorial representation of a threat like BlackSuit ransomware. An illustration of a modern workspace with a laptop displaying cybersecurity icons, surrounded by stacks of coins and a credit card, all depicted in a neon, digital art style.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/04_Ransomware_Category_1920x900-786x368.jpg) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/top-threats.svg)High Profile Threats](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/top-cyberthreats/) November 20, 2024 [#### Threat Assessment: Ignoble Scorpius, Distributors of BlackSuit Ransomware](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/threat-assessment-blacksuit-ransomware-ignoble-scorpius/) * [BlackSuit ransomware](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/blacksuit-ransomware/ "BlackSuit ransomware") * [Construction](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/construction/ "construction") * [Education](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/education/ "Education") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/threat-assessment-blacksuit-ransomware-ignoble-scorpius/ "Threat Assessment: Ignoble Scorpius, Distributors of BlackSuit Ransomware") ![A representation of a threat group like Jumpy Pisces. Illustrative image featuring two fish and the Pisces constellation superimposed on a stylized, abstract background with flowing purple waves and a starry night sky.](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Pisces-NK-A-1920x900-1-786x368.png) [![category icon](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/threat-actor-groups.svg)Threat Actor Groups](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/category/threat-actor-groups/) October 30, 2024 [#### Jumpy Pisces Engages in Play Ransomware](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/north-korean-threat-group-play-ransomware/) * [North Korea](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/north-korea/ "North Korea") * [Jumpy Pisces](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/jumpy-pisces/ "Jumpy Pisces") * [Fiddling Scorpius](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/tag/fiddling-scorpius/ "Fiddling Scorpius") [Read now ![Right arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/icon-right-arrow-withtail.svg)](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/north-korean-threat-group-play-ransomware/ "Jumpy Pisces Engages in Play Ransomware") * ![Slider arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/slider-arrow-left.svg) * ![Slider arrow](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/slider-arrow-left.svg) ![Close button](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/icons/close-modal.svg) ![Enlarged Image]() ![Newsletter](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/unit42-footer-subscribe-desktop.png) ![UNIT 42 Small Logo](https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/wp-content/themes/unit42-v6/dist/images/palo-alto-logo-small.svg) Get updates from Unit 42 ## Peace of mind comes from staying ahead of threats. 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