Inside the Fight Against Cybercrime: A Deep Dive Into Ransomware Tactics

Cybercrime isn’t slowing down, and neither can we.

That’s the central message of Detonation Point, the podcast hosted by Matt O’Neill, former U.S. Secret Service Deputy Special Agent in charge of cyber operations. 

In this series, O’Neill goes inside the fight against cybercrime, hearing directly from defenders across government, infrastructure, and enterprise. Each episode dives into the strategies, technologies, and minds working to keep our data, businesses, and critical infrastructure resilient in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.

In the latest episode, Matt sits down with Dr. Srinidhi Varadarajan, Chief of Cyber Intelligence at Elastio, a cyber resilience company redefining ransomware detection and recovery. Dr. Varadarajan’s career spans decades of research and hands-on innovation, from building antivirus software in high school to developing real-world systems that protect enterprise data today.

The conversation covers Dr. Varadarajan’s journey from early curiosity about computing in India to his current role, where he balances deep innovation with the practical needs of Elastio’s customers. Listeners get an inside look at how Elastio approaches ransomware protection, combining multiple layers of detection and defense to ensure organizations can recover quickly, even in the event of sophisticated attacks.

“Ransomware isn’t just about disrupting systems -it’s about destroying trust and operational continuity. Protecting your backups and validating your data isn’t optional anymore; it’s the only way to ensure you can recover when attacks strike.” - Dr. Varadarajan, Elastio

Key takeaways from the episode include:

• Ransomware is evolving, but so are defenses: Ransomware, which is not the same as malware, has caused attackers to lower the barrier to entry with automation and AI, yet companies can stay ahead with layered, mathematically rigorous detection systems.
  
• Backup integrity is critical: Ransomware groups now target recovery by corrupting or encrypting backups - 90% of incidents involve backup tampering. Fileless, memory-based attacks compromise data before it’s backed up, silently infecting systems and evading detection until recovery, leaving even “clean” or immutable backups untrustworthy without verification.
  
• Planning and preparation save organizations: Beyond technology, having a detailed recovery plan, understanding recovery priorities, and exercising that plan are essential to minimize downtime and reduce the likelihood of paying a ransom or reinfection.
  
• AI is both a threat and an opportunity: While attackers may leverage AI to find vulnerabilities faster, defenders can also harness AI to strengthen detection and response, ensuring attacks are caught before they escalate.
  
• Ransomware is not the only threat: Modern attacks also include data exfiltration and targeted extortion schemes, making comprehensive resilience strategies more important than ever.

Dr. Varadarajan emphasizes that ransomware protection isn’t just about avoiding payment—it’s about business resiliency and data corruption. By combining real-time monitoring, validated backups, and proactive defense, organizations can maintain operational continuity and stay a step ahead of attackers.

For anyone interested in the future of cybersecurity, this episode is a must-listen. It blends expert insight, practical guidance, and fascinating stories from someone who has spent a lifetime understanding both the science and strategy behind defending against cyber threats.

Listen to the full episode of Detonation Point, presented by Elastio, to learn how organizations can truly stay resilient in the face of evolving cybercrime.