Why Ransomware Is So Dangerous and Hard To Stop
Recent high-profile ransomware attacks on the world’s largest meat-packing company and the biggest U.S. fuel pipeline have underscored how hackers can disrupt the economy and put lives and livelihoods at risk.
Last year alone in the U.S., ransomware gangs hit more than 100 government agencies, upwards of 500 health care centers, and 1,680 educational institutions.
Ransomware scrambles the target organization’s data with encryption. The criminals leave instructions for negotiating ransom payments. Once paid, they provide decryption keys for unlocking those files.
Hackers may also copy sensitive files and threaten to post them publicly unless they get their ransom payments. This blackmail can present problems even for companies that diligently back up their data to protect themselves.
The criminal syndicates that dominate the ransomware business are mostly Russian-speaking and operate with near impunity. They use cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin that make their ransom payments harder to track.
And ransoms are rising. Colonial Pipeline confirmed that it paid $4.4 million to the gang of hackers who broke into its computer systems.
Though the FBI discourages paying ransoms, paying up can be the only way for an afflicted business to avoid bankruptcy. Worse, the criminals often research their victims’ cybersecurity insurance coverage limits. They’ve been known to mention it in ransom negotiations.
Vocabulary
high-profile – attracting a lot of attention, interest, or media coverage from the public, “The movie star’s high-profile wedding was featured on the front page of every news website.”
ransomware – a type of harmful computer software that locks files until a specific sum of money is paid, “The hospital’s computer systems were shut down completely by a dangerous ransomware attack.”
underscored – emphasized or showed very clearly that something is important, “The heavy rain underscored the urgent need for a new roof on the old house.”
disrupt – to interrupt an activity, process, or system and cause temporary trouble or confusion, “A loud car alarm outside can easily disrupt your study session.”
livelihoods – the ways people earn money to pay for food, housing, and daily life, “The local fishermen worried that the ocean oil spill would destroy their livelihoods.”
upwards of – more than, or higher than a certain number, “The high school music concert attracted upwards of three hundred parents last night.”
scrambles – mixes up or confuses something so it cannot be understood, read, or used properly, “The weak television signal constantly scrambles the picture on the screen.”
encryption – the process of changing electronic data into a secret code so others cannot read it without permission, “Modern banking apps use advanced encryption to keep your password safe.”
negotiating – talking carefully with someone to reach a mutual agreement, price, or compromise, “They spent hours negotiating the price of the used car before buying it.”
sensitive – needing very careful handling because it is private, secret, or highly important, “You should never share sensitive information like your bank password with strangers.”
blackmail – the act of forcing someone to pay money by threatening to reveal their private secrets or files, “The criminal tried to use blackmail to get money from the local business owner.”
diligently – working with great care, hard effort, and constant attention to detail, “She studied diligently every single night to pass her final university exams.”
syndicates – large groups of people or organizations working together, often for illegal or criminal purposes, “The police worked for months to stop the criminal syndicates from stealing cargo.”
dominate – to have complete control, power, or a commanding influence over a market, group, or situation, “Strong technology companies often dominate the global smartphone industry.”
impunity – freedom or safety from punishment, harm, or negative consequences for doing bad actions, “Because the laws were very weak, the thieves operated with complete impunity.”
cryptocurrencies – digital or electronic currencies that are managed independently and not controlled by a central bank, “Some people choose to buy cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin as a financial investment.”
confirmed – proved, verified, or stated clearly that something is definitely true, “The doctor confirmed that the young patient was completely healthy after the test.”
discourages – tries to persuade someone not to do a specific action; advises against something, “The school principal strictly discourages students from running fast in the narrow hallways.”
afflicted – suffering deeply from a disease, pain, problem, or serious trouble, “The afflicted town received fresh food, clean water, and medical help after the massive earthquake.”
bankruptcy – a legal state where a person or business cannot pay back the money they owe to banks or suppliers, “The local restaurant had to close down because it faced complete bankruptcy.”
cybersecurity – the practice of protecting computer networks, devices, and electronic data from digital attacks or hackers, “The firm hired top experts in cybersecurity to stop online thieves from entering their database.”