Ransomware attacks for local companies in 2018 are set to increase, a new report dubbed Cybersecurity Trends 2018 indicates.
Cyber security firm ESET released the report on Thursday.
The firm’s senior security researcher Stephen Cobb in statement to the Star said there is likelihood of ransomware attacks increasing and supply chain firms are on high risk.
“While many large companies appear to be taking cyber-security more seriously these days, with security teams getting both the budget and the C-level backing required to do a good job, many smaller businesses supplying goods and services to larger organisations are struggling. That makes them an attractive target,” he said in his statement.
Cobb had predicted increased attacks on local companies and also their global peers in 2017.
The report, however, revealed that companies are ready to pay the huge ransom rather than investing it in their cyber defenses.
It urges that companies should invest in their cyber defenses as 2018 comes in.
This year, at least 19 companies in the country were hit by the WannaCry virus attack affecting over 300, 000 users in about 300 countries.
The virus was demanding a ransom of Sh30, 000 (($300) in the Internet currency Bitcoin. All files were locked and would only be freed.
Experts have however, warned that payment of the ransom does not guarantee the files will freed.