The Digital Hostage Crisis: How Ghost Ransomware is Hurting Small Businesses
- Lynira Tamiah
- Feb 24
- 3 min read
Urgent Warning: The Growing Danger of Ghost Ransomware
A new wave of cyberattacks is putting small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) at risk. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) have issued an important warning about Ghost ransomware. This fast-spreading cyber threat has already attacked businesses in over 70 countries (CISA, 2025). Companies that use old software, don’t update their systems, or have weak security are in danger.
How Ghost Ransomware Attacks Businesses
Ghost ransomware, also called Cring, Crypt3r, Phantom, Strike, Hello, Wickrme, HsHarada, and Rapture, is a serious and growing problem. Active since 2021, cybercriminals use old software and weak security to break into business networks. Once inside, they take advantage of known weaknesses in the system.
Ghost attackers don’t just lock data—they make recovery almost impossible by:
Changing their attack methods to avoid being stopped.
Changing file names to make them harder to track.
Modifying ransom notes to confuse security teams.
Using different email addresses to hide their identity.
These attacks have affected organizations in over 70 countries, including schools, hospitals, government offices, and small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
Who Is Behind These Attacks?
These cybercriminals are believed to be operating from China. They look for businesses with weak security and use old software flaws to break in without needing advanced hacking skills.
Ghost ransomware attackers use:
Phishing emails to trick employees into opening harmful links or files.
Unprotected remote desktop connections (RDP) to sneak into business networks.
Stolen VPN passwords to move secretly through systems.
PowerShell scripts to download and run harmful programs.
Why Small Businesses Are Easy Targets
Many small businesses think they are too small to be targeted. However, hackers know that small companies often lack cybersecurity teams, delay software updates, and use outdated systems. This makes them easy victims.
A January 2025 warning from the FBI, CISA, and MS-ISAC showed that Ghost ransomware is becoming more dangerous. The longer businesses wait to improve security, the more likely they are to be attacked.
The Aftermath: What Happens After an Attack?
The financial damage from Ghost ransomware can be devastating:
The average ransom demand is over $50,000.
Business downtime can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Reputation damage can make customers lose trust in the company.
Without good backups, many small businesses never recover. In fact, over 60% of small businesses that suffer a cyberattack shut down within six months.
How to Protect Your Business from Ghost Ransomware
7 Key Steps to Stay Safe:
Backup Everything – Keep offline backups that cannot be locked by ransomware.
Update Your Systems – Always install the latest security updates for your software and devices.
Limit Network Access – Stop attackers from moving through your system by limiting access.
Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) – Add extra security to your logins.
Watch for Strange Activity – Look for unusual network activity or system changes.
Close Unused Access Points – Disable weak access points like RDP 3389, FTP 21, and SMB 445.
Strengthen Email Security – Use strong spam filters and prevent fake email scams.
Final Thought: Take Action Today
Hackers are always finding new ways to attack, but businesses can stay ahead by improving their security. Taking simple steps now can prevent bigger problems later. Updating systems, training employees, and being watchful can greatly lower the risk of an attack.
Investing in cybersecurity today helps protect your business for the future. Are you ready to defend your business?
