Halcyon Introduces Anti-Ransomware Protection for Linux Environments

The Halcyon team is excited to announce a milestone in our mission to make ransomware history: the general availability of Halcyon Linux as an integral part of the Halcyon Anti-Ransomware Platform.

Why Linux is a Prime Target

Ransomware, which initially targeted primarily Windows environments, has now expanded into a formidable threat for Linux systems. This shift is particularly concerning as more enterprises rely on Linux servers to support their critical infrastructure.

In 2023, Linux-based ransomware attacks increased by 75% yet Linux-based systems and endpoints are often overlooked and without ransomware defenses. These systems are essential for hosting backend services, managing databases, running cloud environments, and handling high-value workloads, making them prime targets for cyberattacks.

The impact of ransomware attacks on Linux can be devastating, leading to severe disruptions in business operations. While media coverage often focuses on ransomware targeting VMware ESXi hypervisors, traditional Linux-based systems and endpoints tend to be overshadowed.  

This lack of attention results in a common misunderstanding of the risks and an inadequate level of protection for these systems. Consequently, this oversight represents a significant vulnerability in the cybersecurity defenses of many organizations, leaving them exposed to potentially catastrophic breaches.

The Unique Halcyon Approach

Halcyon Linux is designed to address these unique challenges, providing robust protection against ransomware attacks on Linux systems when deployed with the Halcyon Anti-Ransomware Platform.  

Our solution is tailored to secure the unique way Linux-based environments are targeted in real world ransomware campaigns, from on-premises servers to cloud infrastructures, offering comprehensive protection and rapid response capabilities.

“When it comes to ransomware protection, organizations typically prioritize securing Windows environments because that’s where the ransomware operators were focusing most of their attacks,” said Jon Miller, CEO & Co-founder, Halcyon.  

“However, Linux-based systems are at the core of most any organization’s infrastructure, and protecting these systems is often an afterthought.  

Halcyon Linux, powered through the Halcyon Anti-Ransomware Platform, uniquely secures Linux-based systems, from on-premises servers to cloud infrastructure, offering comprehensive protection and rapid response capabilities, including:

• Real-Time Visibility and Detection: Halcyon Linux monitors and detects ransomware-specific behaviors such as unauthorized access, lateral movement, or modification of critical files in real-time, providing instant alerts with critical context.  

• Integrated Ransomware Response: When ransomware is suspected or detected, the Halcyon Ransomware Response Engine allows for rapid response and action.  

• Data Exfiltration Prevention: Halcyon Data Exfiltration Protection (DXP) identifies and blocks unauthorized data transfers to protect sensitive information, safeguarding the sensitive data stored in Linux-based systems and endpoints.

• Efficient Performance: Halcyon Linux runs with minimal resource impact, ensuring critical environments such as database servers or virtualized workloads, maintain the same performance.

• Cross-Platform Coverage: Halcyon provides protection on Windows and Linux, allowing for seamless ransomware protection across hybrid endpoints.

• 24/7/365 Security Analyst Monitoring: Halcyon offers an around the clock Threat Response team, reviewing and responding to alerts so security teams can attend to other pressing priorities.  

“The fact that Linux systems usually are always on and available means they provide the perfect beachhead for establishing persistence and moving laterally in a targeted network, and they can be leveraged for data theft where the exfiltration is easily masked by normal network traffic,” Miller explained.

“As more ransomware operators are developing the capability to target Linux systems alongside Windows, it is imperative that organizations have the ability to keep pace with the expanded threat.”  

To learn more about Halcyon Linux, please visit: www.halcyon.ai/anti-ransomware/linux.

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Halcyon.ai is the leading anti-ransomware company. Global 2000 companies rely on the Halcyon platform to defeat ransomware with minimal business disruption through built-in bypass and evasion protection, key material capture, automated decryption, and data exfiltration and extortion prevention – talk to a Halcyon expert today to find out more. Halcyon also publishes a quarterly RaaS (Ransomware as a Service) and extortion group reference guide, Power Rankings: Ransomware Malicious Quartile, and check out the Recent Ransomware Attacks resource site.