What is Double Extortion Ransomware? And How to Avoid It | UpGuard

This report explains double extortion ransomware—where attackers exfiltrate data before encrypting it and then threaten to leak, sell, or destroy the data if ransoms are not paid. It outlines common access vectors (phishing, malware, stolen credentials), a typical attack sequence from initial access through data leak, and highlights notable families (Netwalker, Egregor, REvil, Conti). The document emphasizes that paying ransoms offers no guarantees and recommends preventative measures including zero-trust architecture, consistent policy enforcement (e.g., SASE), timely patching, user training, and attack surface management solutions.