Ransomware incidents in North Carolina have surged by nearly 50 percent, with the state reporting an increase from 843 to 1,215 attacks in its latest data breach report for 2024. This alarming trend indicates that ransomware contributed to over half of all reported data breaches within the year.
The attacks have impacted a diverse array of organizations, ranging from legal firms to educational institutions and healthcare providers. Mark Lance, Senior VP of Incident Response and Threat Intelligence at GuidePoint Security, emphasized that these attacks can affect any organization, regardless of size or sector.
Victims typically receive a ransom note on their systems, which directs them to a specific website for communications with the hackers. Lance noted that approximately half of the cases he handles result in some form of settlement between the victim and the attacker. He explained that maintaining a good reputation is crucial for hackers, as it ensures continued profitability in their operations.
WRAL Investigates has sought information from the Attorney General's Office regarding measures being taken to protect North Carolinians' data, but a response is still pending.