How to detect and respond to a ransomware attack with TecnetProtect

All around the world, authorities are stepping up efforts to track down those responsible for ransomware attacks. They’re shutting down dark web marketplaces, dismantling services cybercriminals use to move their money (such as cryptocurrency mixers), and arresting the operators behind these attacks. At the same time, many companies are no longer giving in so easily: more and more are choosing not to pay the ransom.

All this has made ransomware a riskier and less profitable business for attackers. So, one might think the number of attacks is going down, right?

Well… not exactly. The reality is quite different. According to the report The State of Cybersecurity: 2025 Trends, 23% of organizations worldwide reported experiencing at least one major ransomware attack in 2024. And even more alarming: the median ransom demand is now $600,000—20% higher than two years ago.

To make matters worse, cybercriminals are getting more creative. Instead of backing off, they’re turning to more aggressive tactics. The notorious “double extortion” model (encrypting your files and also stealing them to threaten you with leaks) is now common. We’re even seeing more and more cases of “triple extortion.”

So yes, attacks are still on the rise and the threat landscape is becoming increasingly complex. So what now? How can businesses protect themselves in an environment that keeps getting more dangerous?

The key lies in having better detection and response tools—in other words, solutions that help you identify a ransomware attack in time and stop it before it causes major damage.

How Do Ransomware Attacks Really Start?

For a long time, companies have relied too heavily on firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other traditional defenses to protect against ransomware. The idea of keeping the “bad guys” out sounds logical, but in today’s world—filled with cloud environments, identity-driven applications, and hybrid networks—that’s no longer enough. It’s like trying to protect your home with a lock on the front door while all the windows are wide open.

If an organization truly wants to be prepared against ransomware, it first needs to understand how these attacks begin. Knowing where attackers get in is the first step to preventing it.

Where Do Attackers Slip In?

Today, the vast majority of ransomware attacks start in one of two main ways: external exposure or human error.

1. External Exposure: Unprotected Connected Systems

In over 90% of recently analyzed cases, attackers gained entry through some system or service exposed to the internet. Sometimes that access was left open by accident, and other times it was due to oversight or a lack of updates.

Remote access, for example, continues to be one of the most vulnerable points. In many cases, attackers broke in through poorly secured or misconfigured remote connections. How? Here are some common examples:

1. Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) attacks: If you have a server accessible from the outside, it’s one of the first targets.

2. Compromising Active Directory: The tool that manages users and access in many organizations.

3. Stolen or purchased credentials: Yes, there are dark web marketplaces where compromised access credentials are sold.

Then there are also so-called external exploits, where attackers take advantage of a system vulnerability to break in. Although the infamous “zero-day” attacks (those exploiting unknown vulnerabilities) sound scary, they’re actually quite rare. Most of the time, attackers use known flaws that simply haven’t been patched.

In fact, more than a third of recent ransomware attacks exploited vulnerabilities that already had available fixes but hadn’t been addressed in time. This means that with a solid update system, many of these attacks could have been avoided.

2. Human Error: One Click Can Open the Door

Although less frequent, user mistakes still account for a significant share of attacks. In over 12% of cases analyzed in a recent report, a single click was enough to compromise an entire network.

The most common user-related attack vectors include:

1. Phishing: Emails that appear legitimate but contain malicious links or attachments. One wrong click can leak credentials or install malware.

2. Use of leaked passwords: Sometimes a user’s credentials have been exposed in previous breaches and remain active because no one changed them.

3. Downloading malicious software: Whether out of necessity or curiosity, users sometimes download programs that come with an unwanted “bonus” (malware).

4. Social engineering scams: Fake tech support calls, urgent messages, or any emotionally manipulative tactic aimed at prompting rash user actions.

Why Does All This Matter?

Because protecting yourself from ransomware also helps defend against other types of attacks. Many of the same entry points attackers use (like poorly secured RDP, unpatched software, or phishing) are common in other cyber threats as well, such as business email compromise or spyware installation.

In short: ransomware doesn’t start with a bang—it starts with an unlocked door. Whether it’s an unpatched system or an unfortunate click, attackers are constantly looking for those small openings to break in.

Read more: Why are we still falling for phishing attacks in the middle of 2025?

How Does a Ransomware Attack Spread Once It Gets In?

When attackers gain access to a system, they don’t just sit and wait. On the contrary—they start moving quickly within the environment to gather information, steal data, and cause as much damage as possible. This stage is known as lateral movement, and it’s one of the most dangerous phases of a ransomware attack.

Basically, once inside the network, the attacker begins to “roam” across different machines and systems, searching for access to more critical areas: servers with valuable data, databases, backups, and more. Their goal is to gain enough control to encrypt important files or steal sensitive information before launching the final attack.

And this is no simple feat—it takes a certain level of skill. Attackers know how to evade security systems, exploit any weaknesses, and act quickly to avoid being detected in time.

It All Starts with a Single Device

In most cases, ransomware enters through a single weak point: a compromised device, such as an employee’s PC or a poorly configured server exposed to the internet. From there, it connects to what’s known as a command and control (C2) server—essentially the attacker’s operations center.

Once that connection is established, the C2 server issues instructions: encrypt certain files, move to other systems, or even erase traces of the intrusion. At that point, things escalate quickly.

What Does a Ransomware Attack Look Like in Real Life?

We often think of cyberattacks as something distant or straight out of a hacker movie. But the truth is, ransomware attacks are much more common than they seem—and when they happen, they tend to follow a pretty clear pattern.

Let’s break it down step by step so you can see how a typical ransomware attack unfolds, from the first click to total chaos:

Step 1: The Bait Email

It all starts with something as simple as a phishing email. The attacker sends a message that looks legitimate (they might pretend to be a vendor, a well-known platform, or even a coworker). The user falls for the trap, clicks the link or opens the attachment… and unknowingly executes the malware.

Step 2: The Malware Calls Home

Once the malware is executed, its first move is to connect to the attacker’s command and control (C2) server. It’s like saying, “I’m in, what’s next?” From there, it copies itself into the system’s memory and starts executing malicious code from there—without installing any visible files.

Step 3: Hiding and Staying Put

The malware wants to stay in the system as long as possible without being detected. To do that, it hides within a legitimate service or embeds itself in the Windows registry. This way, every time the system reboots, the malware runs again—without leaving traces on the hard drive. This is known as a fileless attack, and it’s especially hard to detect with traditional security tools.

Step 4: Stealing Credentials

With the malware firmly in place, the next step is to collect credentials. The attacker scans the system memory (specifically the LSASS process) and extracts password hashes found there.

If they get lucky (and they often do), they’ll find the hash for an administrator account—like someone from the IT team. With that, they can impersonate that user within the network.

Step 5: Full Access

Now that they have the administrator’s hash, the attacker uses it to move through the network using a technique called pass-the-hash. But it doesn’t stop there. They go further and launch a DCSync attack, which basically lets them impersonate a domain controller—one of the key servers that manages security in Microsoft environments.

The result? The attacker now has the hashes for every account in the domain. In other words, they have full access to the environment: all users, all systems, all data. At this point, they’re ready for the final blow—deploying the ransomware and encrypting all the company’s critical files.

Why Is It Important to Understand This?

Because a ransomware attack doesn’t come out of nowhere. It’s a process that can unfold over hours or even days. What starts as a single misguided click can end with an entire organization paralyzed, its data held hostage, and under threat of public exposure.

Most importantly: each step is a chance to detect and stop the attack before it reaches the point of no return.

How to Detect and Stop a Ransomware Attack with TecnetProtect

When the ransom message appears on every screen, it’s already too late. The ransomware has done its job—encrypting files, compromising systems, and now demanding payment. But it doesn’t have to get to that point.

With TecnetProtect, a cybersecurity solution powered by Acronis technology, it’s possible to detect, block, and contain an attack before it causes irreversible damage. Here’s how it works at each stage of the attack:

Stage 1: Prevention and Early Detection

Initial Access: This is where it all begins. Most ransomware attacks enter through phishing, unpatched vulnerabilities, or insecure configurations. TecnetProtect reduces this risk from the start with:

1. Endpoint protection with built-in AI: Detects suspicious behavior and blocks malware before it can run.

2. Automated vulnerability and patch management: Thanks to Acronis technology, critical systems are proactively updated to prevent known exploits.

3. Advanced anti-phishing: Analyzes emails and links in real time to prevent users from falling for scams.

4. Application control: Only authorized software is allowed to run, reducing the risk of unauthorized malware installation.

5. User training + attack simulations: Trains staff with phishing scenarios and evaluates their responses.

Result: TecnetProtect detects and blocks most intrusion attempts before they even enter the system.

Stage 2: Lateral Movement

Once inside, attackers try to silently move across the network to gain full control. This can happen in minutes or hours. Quick detection is critical here.

1. Behavior-based detection: Identifies unusual patterns like access attempts outside normal hours, internal network scanning, etc.

2. Real-time alerts with automatic prioritization: Filters and ranks threats, reducing alert fatigue from false positives.

3. 24/7 continuous monitoring: Oversees endpoints, users, servers, network, and cloud from a central console.

4. Automatic blocking of malicious processes: Uses AI to stop actions like mass file encryption or memory injections.

5. Instant isolation of infected devices: TecnetProtect can automatically disconnect a device from the network to prevent ransomware spread.

Result: TecnetProtect detects suspicious movement before the attacker reaches critical data.

Stage 3: Response and Containment

If the attacker makes it further, it’s still possible to stop them, minimize damage, and restore the environment without paying a cent.

1. Secure, automatic backups: Creates frequent, tamper-proof backups (immutable backups).

2. Fast, granular recovery: Allows restoration of anything from a single file to a full server in minutes.

3. Integrated forensic analysis: Identifies the attack source and affected systems for a precise response.

4. Fileless ransomware resilience: Detects malware that runs directly in memory without installed files.

5. Expert incident response support: Direct assistance to stop the attack, block access, and restore operations.

Result: Ransomware is quickly contained and systems are recovered without paying a ransom.

Stage 4: Recovery and Continuous Improvement

Stopping the attack is only part of the process. True protection means learning from the incident, strengthening weak points, and preventing future attacks.

1. Automated post-incident analysis: Provides a detailed report with the attack timeline, exploited vulnerabilities, and recommendations.

2. Policy and access review: Identifies compromised accounts or excessive permissions that need adjusting.

3. Backup validation: TecnetProtect regularly verifies that backups can be restored correctly.

4. Automatic updates of detection rules and engines: Powered by global intelligence and emerging threats.

Result: The organization emerges stronger from the incident and better prepared for future attacks.

Read more: Threat Detection and Response with TecnetProtect

Why Choose TecnetProtect?

TecnetProtect isn’t just a traditional security solution. It’s a unified platform with capabilities that include:

1. Proactive antimalware

2. EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response)

3. AI-powered backup protection

4. Patch management

5. Forensic analysis

6. Cloud and server security

All in one easy-to-use tool, backed by Acronis technology and TecnetOne’s expert technical support.

Conclusion

Detecting and stopping a ransomware attack isn’t about luck—it’s about being prepared at every stage. With TecnetProtect, you can:

1. Prevent attacks before they start

2. Detect suspicious activity in real time

3. Respond quickly and recover systems without paying ransoms

Don’t wait for a ransom note to show up on your screen. Protect your business today with a solution built to anticipate attackers—not just react to them.