| Attacker Profile | Access Method | Consequence | |----------------|---------------|--------------| | Local malicious insider | Shoulder surfing, unlocked workstation | Credential theft to corporate systems | | Remote malware (info-stealer) | File system search for *password*.txt | Bulk credential exfiltration | | Cloud account compromise | Scanning Drive/Dropbox for the filename | Lateral movement to bank, social media | | Physical theft (laptop) | Boot from live USB, read raw partition | Full account takeover |
Ransomware attacks often involve not just locking your files, but stealing them first (double extortion). If a ransomware gang gains access to your network or computer and finds a file named passwords.txt , they have hit the jackpot. passwords.txt file
| Attacker Profile | Access Method | Consequence | |----------------|---------------|--------------| | Local malicious insider | Shoulder surfing, unlocked workstation | Credential theft to corporate systems | | Remote malware (info-stealer) | File system search for *password*.txt | Bulk credential exfiltration | | Cloud account compromise | Scanning Drive/Dropbox for the filename | Lateral movement to bank, social media | | Physical theft (laptop) | Boot from live USB, read raw partition | Full account takeover |
Ransomware attacks often involve not just locking your files, but stealing them first (double extortion). If a ransomware gang gains access to your network or computer and finds a file named passwords.txt , they have hit the jackpot.