Stop Ransomware Kill Chaining: The Attack Before a Ransomware Attack

I’m on my third cup of coffee — so let’s discuss the ransomware kill chains.

Ransomware is relentless. Gone are the days when all a thief had to do was smash and grab. Modern ransomware campaigns are calculated, multi-stage operations that take a structured path — what we in security refer to as a kill chain. If you understand how the kill chain operates, you can intercept it before it passes the point of no return.

And here’s the thing — I’ve seen it come to life. When I was in the early days of my admin career forever ago (yes, pre-Slammer-worm days), there were virtually no endpoint controls. You would take a punch, and you’d try to clean up the mess. (Not fun.) We have tools now, we have strategy now, and if you’re looking at the kill chain properly, you can hopefully stop ransomware before it’s even thought about executing.

What is a Kill Chain?

A kill chain is a process that an attacker goes through, step-by-step, to reach his goal, usually data theft, ransomware placement, or just general chaos.

The military originally derived this concept in the domain of physical warfare. In cybersecurity, we leverage this concept to categorize how threats transition from initial access that leads to final execution. It’s like cooking a meal, where you have some steps you need to follow. Miss one ingredient? The whole dish is ruined.

Same with ransomware. Interfere with just one of those critical stages, and the attack falls apart.

Stages of a Ransomware Attack

Ransomware kill chain awareness is not purely a theoretical concept. If you understand the way the attack works, you understand where to strike. Here’s what a typical ransomware attack looks like:

• Initial Access – through the use of phishing, unprotected RDP credentials, or software vulnerabilities. They get in somehow.
• Privilege Escalation – Attackers elevate a low-level user account to admin — because ransomware performs optimally with full system access.
• Lateral Movement – Moving between these systems in search of critical data and key infrastructure.
• Step 4: Payload Deployment – This is where the actual ransomware code is dropped and staged.
• Execution — Files are encrypted, ransom note pops up, trouble ensues.
• Exfiltration (The Occasional) — More and more often, attackers steal data prior to encrypting it to establish leverage.

Now, if you are allowing attackers to get to Step 5, you are already in horrible shape. The trick is preventing them from getting that far.

How to Disrupt the Chain

You don’t require a “100% AI-driven, next-gen, zero-trust blockchain-powered” defensive offering. You need layered security. Here’s what works:

1. Harden Initial Access
   • Patch everything. Always.
   • Implement MFA everywhere, especially for RDP and VPN.
   • Prevent email from sending macro-heavy Office files. (Getting whacked by macro-based malware in 2024? Fix that.)
2. Detect Privilege Escalation
   • Monitor for unusual privilege escalation using an EDR agent.
   • Lock down PowerShell — attackers like to exploit it.
   • Have network monitoring looking for sudden permission changes.
3. Stop Lateral Movement
   • Zero Trust — give users access only to what they need.
   • Segment your network. If ransomware locks down one box, ensure it dies there.
   • Disable SMBv1, disable services not in use. It’s like shutting doors on your way out of a burning building.
4. Hunt for Ransomware Payloads
   • Prevent running suspicious scripts. (Ex: why is JavaScript running from a temp directory?)
   • Use threat intelligence — be aware of common IOCs (Indicators of Compromise).
   • Backups, backups, backups. But also? Test them. (I’ve seen way too many “backups” fail when the chips are down.)

Kill Chain Defense by PJ Networks

We do not merely discuss the need to halt ransomware at PJ Networks; we witness kill chains traversing our systems in real time. We deploy:

• Working firewalls: No default-allow rubbish. We design our firewall policies to block kill chain steps at various layers.
• Network Traffic Analytics: We monitor for unusual outbound traffic as a ransomware muons iterate that detonates. (Yes, this captures Command & Control activity before any damage is done.)
• Zero-Trust Upgrades: Just last quarter, we redesigned security for three banks: shutting access down, enforcing identity up, and removing risk down.
• Immediate Response for Attack Incidents: In the event that an attack is initiated, we do not wait; we shut that down. Because time and money are wasted on waiting.

Quick Take

If you don’t have time to read the whole thing (totally get it), just know these:

• Do not compromise on Multi-factor Authentication.
• Patch everything — don’t make attackers’ lives easier by leaving known bugs unpatched.
• Watch network traffic — if you spot strange lateral movement, terminate the session.
• Off-site backups cannot be eliminated.

Conclusion

Ransomware can’t be defeated, but you can defend against it. They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. I have seen far too many organizations reach out for help postencryption.

And listen, I’ve been in this business since the early ‘90s. Problems change, but the fundamentals remain — limit access, monitor aggressively, respond quickly. And if you do, most ransomware campaigns won’t even begin.

Would love to hear your thoughts — particularly if you’re skeptical of some of my takes. Leave a comment (or debate me at the next security conference).