Ransomware Detection

Ransomware detection requires superior technology

When an organization or its users fail to detect ransomware and an attack is successful, the results can be devastating. The business can lose access to critical information, and the efforts to respond to ransomware and recover data can disrupt business for days or weeks.

Lost business during this time can represent a significant decline in revenues, and loss of reputation can hurt a business even more.

As ransomware attacks become more frequent, organizations are turning to ransomware detection technology to fend off this growing threat.

How to detect a ransomware attack

During a ransomware attack, cyber attackers access corporate data or network systems, hold them hostage by encrypting or blocking access to them, and demand that the organization pay a ransom to regain access.

Ransomware attacks are often conducted via malicious URLs or weaponized attachments in an email message. Consequently, ransomware detection depends on technology that can scan email for suspicious links and malware, and prevent employees from clicking on a link or opening attachment that can initiate a ransomware attack.

Ransomware detection techniques

Early ransomware detection is essential to minimize the damage caused by a ransomware attack. With infections becoming more sophisticated, identifying malicious activity early helps prevent widespread disruption and data loss.

Behavioral analysis

This technique looks for unusual behavior such as suspicious activity in file systems, where a file attempts to encrypt large numbers of files or modify key system components. Early identification of such behavior allows organizations to stop a ransomware threat before it can fully execute and cause harm.

Signature-based detection

Signature-based detection focuses on comparing files and processes to a database of known ransomware signatures. While this method is effective for identifying malicious software that has been previously encountered, it may not detect new variants.

However, it remains a valuable part of a layered ransomware prevention strategy, especially for detecting older ransomware strains.

Email security and phishing detection

Phishing emails are often the initial access point for ransomware infections. These emails may contain malicious software in the form of attachments or links.

Security solutions designed to scan emails for suspicious activity, such as strange sender addresses or links leading to malicious sites, can help prevent ransomware from entering an organization.

File and network monitoring

Monitoring network traffic for anomalies can help detect ransomware threats early. For example, large-scale file encryption or unusual communication with external servers may indicate the presence of ransomware.

Organizations can quickly identify and isolate the threat before it spreads across systems, protecting sensitive data.

Endpoint protection and antivirus software

Effective endpoint protection software helps identify malicious software at the point of entry. This includes scanning for known ransomware signatures and identifying files attempting to execute suspicious actions on individual devices.

Regularly updating antivirus and endpoint protection software is one of the most important best practices for ransomware prevention.

How to train employees to detect ransomware

Security awareness training can be highly effective at educating employees to detect ransomware. Human error is one of the leading contributors to successful ransomware attacks, making security awareness training a top priority for organizations seeking to detect ransomware earlier and with greater consistency.

Security awareness training can help employees to detect ransomware by looking for specific indicators such as:

• Mismatched links in the body of the email, where a link would take a user to a site (usually malicious) that is different than the site listed in the text for the link.
• Anomalies in the sender’s address that indicate the message is likely not from the person or organization it purports to be.
• Urgent or threatening language intended to pressure the user to act quickly and without exercising caution.
• Requests to share or divulge sensitive information like login credentials.
• Grammar and spelling mistakes that are highly unusual in a supposedly professional business email.

How do security solutions detect ransomware?

Anti-ransomware solutions use a variety of technologies to detect ransomware. Email scanning and filtering services inspect the header and content in all incoming and internal emails to look for indicators of a phishing, impersonation or ransomware attack. These may include header anomalies, domain similarity, recency of the sending domain, as well as certain suspect language in the content of emails.

These services can also detect ransomware emails by inspecting all emails and blocking access to any URLs or attachments that are deemed to be malicious or suspicious. DNS authentication services seek to detect ransomware email by using SPF, DKIM and DMARC authentication services to determine whether the sender as a legitimate address or a spoofed address.

Mimecast solutions for ransomware detection

Mimecast’s cloud-based services provide fully integrated solutions for email security, archiving and continuity. With Mimecast, organizations no longer need to implement or manage multiple point solutions for ransomware detection or to defend against the myriad of email threats. Mimecast’s technology includes ransomware detection, malware and spam protection, targeted attack protection, and solutions to prevent data leaks, send secure messages and securely transfer large files.

Mimecast Targeted Threat Protection extends traditional gateway security to defend against targeted attacks like ransomware, a phishing email or a whaling attack.

Targeted Threat Protection improves ransomware detection with the ability to identify and block the techniques used by ransomware attackers.

Detect ransomware with Mimecast impersonation protect

Mimecast Impersonation Protect defends against the social-engineering techniques that are the hallmark of phishing, spear-phishing and whaling attacks. In these targeted threats, the sender poses as a familiar or trusted source and attempts to dupe employees into clicking a link, sharing information or taking an action that can harm the organization. Mimecast scans all inbound email for the signs of a social-engineering attack, enabling suspicious emails to be automatically blocked, quarantined for review, or tagged with a warning before sending them on to the recipient.

URLs

Mimecast stops ransomware at the link level with real-time threat analysis and AI-powered scanning. Every URL in every email is checked the moment it’s clicked, blocking access until the site is confirmed safe. This “time-of-click” protection catches malicious links, including those hidden in QR codes, to stop phishing and “quishing” attacks before they spread. For ongoing defense, Mimecast will also aggressively rewrite URLs so every click triggers a fresh scan.

Attachments

Mimecast blocks ransomware hidden in email attachments by inspecting every file with AI and sandbox analysis. Encrypted or polymorphic malware is detected before it ever reaches the inbox, with unsafe files blocked or converted into safe formats. A secure email gateway adds another layer, filtering out spam, viruses, and other malware.

Impersonation

Many ransomware campaigns start with social engineering. Mimecast’s advanced BEC (Business Email Compromise) protection uses AI to spot impersonation attempts, spear-phishing, and whaling attacks. It analyzes sender behavior, domain reputation, and message intent to flag suspicious emails, then blocks, quarantines, or tags them before they reach users. Social Graphing reveals your most targeted employees, and Mimecast’s DMARC Analyzer helps prevent domain spoofing and brand impersonation.

Discover how to defend against ransomware with Mimecast, and explore powerful solutions that make sending secure email effortless.