Ransomware up 62 percent since 2019 Cybercriminals are using more sophisticated ransomware tactics and more dangerous variants, like Ryuk, to earn an easy payday. This has seen a 62 percent increase globally and a 158 percent spike in North America since 2019. The latest Cyber Threat Report from SonicWall highlights how COVID-19 has provided threat actors with opportunities for more powerful, aggressive and numerous attacks, thriving on the fear and uncertainty of remote and mobile work forces navigating corporate networks from home. "2020 offered a perfect storm for cybercriminals and a critical tipping point for the cyber arms race," says SonicWall's president and CEO Bill Conner. "The pandemic -- along with remote work, a charged political climate, record prices of cryptocurrency, and threat actors weaponizing cloud storage and tools -- drove the effectiveness and volume of cyberattacks to new highs. This latest threat intelligence offers a look at how cybercriminals shifted and refined their tactics, painting a picture of what they are doing amid the uncertain future that lies ahead."