The FBI has been flapping their gums again on the topic of Bitcoin ransomware. Not too long ago, the law enforcement agency advised users just to pay the fee and move on. That statement did not sit all too well with the general public. For now, the agency wants users to submit as much information, albeit they present no real solutions to this problem.
Simple Steps To Deal With Ransomware: FBI Version
Whenever a computer or network gets infected with ransomware, people need to be concerned. Not only does it mean their device or network has been compromised, but restoring system access can be a tedious task. For most infections, paying the Bitcoin ransom may seem like the normal thing to do. But doing so will only allow hackers to exploit the same targets again and again.
The FBI have released their new guidelines on how users need to deal with ransomware. Although the agency briefly mentions how paying is not advised, they are not openly advocating against it either. Moreover, everyone should contact the law enforcement agency immediately, or file a complaint on the IC3 website. What good that will do in the long run, remains anybody’s guess.
FBI’s Cyber Division Supervisory Special Agent Will Bales explained:
“People have to remember that ransomware does not affect just one person or one business. It will more than likely move on and affect somebody else. And for those who pay the ransom, it only encourages them to extort the next person.”
This statement is rather refreshing to hear. A few months ago, the FBI publicly advised anyone infected with ransomware to pay the money. It appears some people at the agency still have more than two peas for a brain when it comes to cybercrime. Computer users should never give in to these demands, regardless of how annoying the situation may be.
New statistics seem to indicate there are close to 4,000 ransomware attacks taking place every day. This trend started on January 1st and had only grown more severe ever since. Phishing emails, a very common distribution method for malware, now contain malware in 9 out of 10 cases.
It is evident the FBI wants to address ransomware criminals but struggles to do so. Since no one knows who created these tools, or where they are distributed from, it is hard to eliminate threats. In most cases, they can take down a piece of infrastructure, but that is about as far as they can go.
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