Ransomware has become a significant threat to computer users all over the world. Criminals who develop these types of malware known that all too well. By targeting specific users or corporations, they can leverage a higher price demand to restore computer access. Most companies seem more than willing to pay these ransom demands in Bitcoin, which only adds fuel to the fire.
This is Only The Beginning For Ransomware
Contrary to what some people might believe, ransomware will not be going away anytime soon. With companies seeming more willing than ever to pay the ransom demands in Bitcoin, that situation will only get worse. Not too long ago, news leaked major companies are stocking up on Bitcoin as a safeguard against ransomware attacks.
Security experts are very concerned about the future of malware, though. Most of them expect even more targeted and destructive versions to come out. It is equally possible the ransom demands will grow exponentially expensive, which is not something to look forward to. No one should pay this Bitcoin demand, to begin with, yet a lot of victims do so.
Even the FBI is expressing their concern over future ransomware versions. Vulnerable business servers are becoming the new target, even though individual users may present a more lucrative target. However, infecting a computer network will increase the number of computers that could be taken over.
The FBI Alert mentioned the following:
“Actors engaging in this targeting strategy are also charging ransoms based on the number of hosts (or servers) infected. Additionally, recent victims who have been infected with these types of ransomware variants have not been provided the decryption keys for all their files after paying the ransom, and some have been extorted for even more money after payment.”
To put this into perspective, various types of ransomware are already targeting specific individuals and corporations. Multiple malware kits seem to indicate default suggest ransom amounts are present. However, these numbers will depend on the victim’s geographic location. This would explain why specific versions of malware go after Russian corporations, whereas others show up in Italy, for example.
It is evident for everyone to see things will not improving automatically. Ransomware attacks are still in the early stages, and we have not seen the massive waves of destruction criminals can unleash..Without proper security precautions, the Internet will not be safe or fun to use in a few years from now.
Source: KrebsOnSecurity
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