Ransom-related coverage examines extortion demands, data theft, and disruption caused when attackers lock or threaten to expose systems.
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Background for this topic.
Ransomware is malicious software that disrupts access to systems or data, typically by encrypting files, to pressure a victim into paying. Modern campaigns may also steal data and threaten to publish it, making the demand a form of extortion even when encryption is unsuccessful. Common access routes include phishing, exposed remote services, stolen credentials, and unpatched vulnerabilities, though no single route is universal.
Important safeguards include regularly tested, offline or otherwise isolated backups; multifactor authentication and least-privilege access; network segmentation; and timely remediation of known, internet-facing vulnerabilities. During an incident, organizations should isolate affected systems, preserve evidence, identify the scope of compromise, and coordinate recovery and legal or regulatory decisions. Payment does not guarantee data recovery or deletion. Threat intelligence may help identify associated infrastructure or available decryptors, while documented recovery plans reduce dependence on an attacker’s demands.
As Ransomware Disruption Mounts, More Experts Seek Path to Banning PaymentsAs ransomware groups are causing massive damage and disruption and showing no signs of stopping, cybersecurity policy expert Ciaran Martin said it's time for governments to start asking tough questions and "figure out how to make a ransomware payments ban work."
Affiliate Claims Administrators Kept All $22 Million Paid by Change HealthcareThe administrators of the BlackCat ransomware-as-a-service group claim law enforcement has shut down their operation. But experts and affiliates accuse the group's leadership of running an exit scam on the heels of a $22 million ransom payment by a recent victim - Optum's Change Healthcare unit.