Are you a SmarterASP.NET hosting user? Bad news is happening. SmarterASP.NET is one of the largest ASP.NET hosting companies, with more than 440,000 customers. SmarterASP.NET announced it was hit yesterday by a ransomware attack.
Ransomware is a type of malware (malicious software) that cybercriminals use to hold people to ransom. Ransomware is a type of malicious software that blocks access to a computer system or data, usually by encrypting it, until the victim pays a fee to the attacker. In many cases, the ransom demand comes with a deadline. If the victim doesn’t pay in time, the data is gone forever.
Ransomware attacks are all too common these days. Major companies in North America and Europe alike have fallen victim to it. Cybercriminals will attack any consumer or any business and victims come from all industries.
Several government agencies, including the FBI, advise against paying the ransom to keep from encouraging the ransomware cycle, as does the No More Ransom Project. Furthermore, half of the victims who pay the ransom are likely to suffer from repeat attacks.
What happened on the SmarterASP.NET server was an attack that encrypted customer data and the company’s website could not be reached on Saturday, it rose again this morning on Sunday. You can see on Twitter, there are so many complaints about SmarterASP.NET that is in trouble.
SmarterASP.NET confirmed the incident and announced that it was working to restore the customer’s server, no info was shared with the malware family that hit the company. It is unclear whether SmarterASP.NET decides to pay a ransom, or if it is recovering data using its backup.
Ransomware attacks continue to make headlines, how not, SmarterASP.NET also holds data of several large companies such as the main board action sports company Boardriders and its subsidiaries including QuikSilver and Billabong, a few hours ago they are still being hit by this kind of malware. Boardriders has around 10,000 employees from all over the world and its Quiksilver, Billabong, ROXY, RVCA, DC Shoes, and Element brands are sold in over 110 countries.
Following the attack, the company’s e-commerce stores displayed messages offering customers 20% off promotions and stating that Boardriders is experiencing shipping delays.
