Ransomware has been a significant threat for years, and now a new trend is gaining momentum: Doxware. Read on to uncover what doxware is, how it operates, and what you can do to protect your organization.
What Is Doxware?
Doxware is a form of malicious software. It enables hackers to steal data so they can threaten to leak sensitive personal information.
Doxware targets confidential data such as emails, private conversations, photos, and financial records. Publicly releasing this kind of data leads to reputational damage and compliance issues, which puts extreme pressure on the victim, often leaving them with no choice but to pay the ransom.
The name “doxware” comes from “doxing,” a practice associated with internet culture where private or identifying information about an individual or organization is searched for and shared online, often to harm or shame the subject.
The term “dox” is an alteration of “docs” (short for documents) and refers to the act of revealing documents or records about someone. Combined with “-ware,” a common suffix used in malware types like “ransomware,” the term “doxware” means leveraging documented private information as a weapon against victims to demand ransom.
What Is the Difference Between Ransomware and Doxware?
Ransomware and doxware both involve holding a victim’s data hostage for a ransom. However, the key difference lies in the additional threat that doxware poses.
Ransomware typically locks or encrypts the victim’s data, making it inaccessible until a ransom is paid. The primary focus is on denying access to data rather than exposing it.
Doxware ups the ante by threatening to release the stolen data publicly. This means that even if victims can recover their data through backups, the potential damage from the public release of sensitive information can be long-lasting and more devastating.
Essentially, ransomware focuses on data encryption, whereas doxware incorporates data exfiltration. Doxware combined with ransomware (encrypting and leaking data) is known as a double extortion attack.
Doxware Example
In February 2024, a ransomware gang hacked into U.S. healthcare tech giant UnitedHealth. They mainly targeted the subsidiary Change Healthcare, who processes health insurance and billing claims for around half of all U.S. residents.
Hackers used stolen credentials to access the company’s systems that weren’t protected by multifactor authentication (MFA). Once the threat actor gained access, they moved laterally within the company’s systems, exfiltrated data, and deployed ransomware.
UnitedHealth admitted that the hackers stole health data on a “substantial proportion of people in America.”
In the end, the company was forced to pay the ransom to prevent the hackers from leaking the stolen, highly sensitive healthcare data.
How to Protect Against Doxware
As doxware continues to challenge businesses with threats of public data exposure, upgrading your cybersecurity strategy is essential. Traditional security measures like backups aren’t enough, as they don’t prevent criminals from leaking your confidential data.
Here are some best practices to help you fortify your defenses against doxware:
- Enhance Cybersecurity Awareness and Training
The human factor remains a critical vulnerability in cybersecurity. It’s essential to continuously train your employees on how to identify phishing attempts, practice secure password management, and understand the risks of mishandling sensitive information. Regular education efforts can significantly strengthen your first line of defense.
- Prioritize Software Updates and Patch Management
Exploiting software vulnerabilities is a common tactic among hackers to deploy their malicious campaigns. Keeping your software environment up-to-date and promptly applying security patches are crucial steps in closing potential entry points for cybercriminals.
- Use VPNs and Secure Connections
Encourage the use of VPNs and other secure connections, especially for remote work scenarios, to reduce the risk of data interception and unauthorized access.
- Implement a Zero Trust Security Model
Adopt the zero trust framework, which is based on the principle of “never trust, always verify.”
This approach requires that every access request, even those originating from within the network, must be verified before granting access. This helps minimize potential breaches and protects sensitive data from unauthorized access.
- Adopt Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Implement multi-factor authentication across all access points within your network, especially for systems that handle sensitive data. MFA adds an additional layer of security by requiring two or more verification methods, which significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access even if login credentials are compromised.
In the UnitedHealth example, it was later discovered that cybercriminals had used stolen credentials. MFA could have prevented them from accessing the company’s system and confidential data.
- Leverage 24/7 Threat Detection with ProLion
ProLion’s DataDefense monitors your network for unusual activity and instantly blocks potential threats. With advanced threat detection and cybersecurity protection at the storage level, ProLion ensures an additional layer of security, safeguarding your data from doxware attacks.
ProLion: Your Ally Against Doxware
With the evolution of ransomware into more complex doxware scenarios, enhancing your cyber defenses has never been more urgent. Don’t wait until you’re the next victim. Get in touch with a ProLion cybersecurity expert today or read our whitepaper to learn more about the best cybersecurity strategies.
