Data Center Doldrums

Equinix is the latest data center provider to fall victim to ransomware, with the Redwood City, Calif.-based company disclosing Thursday that a security incident resulted in ransomware getting into some of its internal systems. The company said its data centers and service offerings remain fully operational, adding that customer operations, data and equipment haven’t been impacted.

BleepingComputer reported Thursday that Netwalker carried out the ransomware attack against Equinix and demanded a $4.5 million ransom to prevent the release of stolen data. Equinix declined to comment on the BleepingComputer report. The company’s stock is down $8.31 (1.11 percent) to $745.11 per share since the ransomware attack was disclosed before the market opened Thursday.

Despite only being active for six months, Netwalker has crippled schools, hospitals and governments throughout the world and has already reaped more than $25 million in ransom payments.

From bypassing phishing and spam-based attacks to refusing English-speaking affiliates to doubling the ransom demands on victims that don’t immediately pay, here are seven things solution providers need to know about the Netwalker ransomware attacks following the Equinix breach.