Ransomware in IoT: A Digitized Nightmare

Abstract

One of the most exponentially growing issues in the world of computing is malware, specifically ransomware. Ransomware is the leading cause of data loss and corruption, which is caused by the encryption of files by an attacker who demands a ransom fee that must be paid to regain access to the encrypted files. There are two main types of ransomwares: locker ransomware and crypto ransomware. The focus here will be crypto ransomware. The Internet of Things – IoT – is usually an overlooked security concern by many organizations and companies. If a vulnerable IoT device is found by an attacker, they can easily exploit it and launch a ransomware attack through it. This will, in turn, compromise and potentially lock the entire system, blocking all users from accessing any data.  This paper discusses the impact of ransomware in IoT and how the attack takes place in an IoT device. Further, it talks about the initial stages of an algorithm that can be used to detect anomalies in IoT devices that are relevant to ransomware attack. This can help prevent such an attack from being launched by taking the appropriate preventative measures.