More advanced ransomware attacks could pop up in 2015

Ransomware attacks, relying on custom malware able to encrypt files, continues to pose a significant threat to business users.

New ransomware types are popping up, including Crypto Wall and Torrent Locker, being distributed via email spam, watering hole attacks, and malvertising. Due to the financial benefit of compromising victims, hackers are always on the lookout for new methods to infect victims.

"One researcher likens it to turning on the kitchen light and having the cockroaches scatter," said Andrew Conway, research analyst at Cloudmark, in a statement published by Baseline. "Now, instead of one ransomware package, there are three or four of them out there. Occasionally, there will be a bug on ransomware that will enable people to get their data back. But, if you don't have another copy of that data, pay the ransom if you need [the data]."