Why Ransomware Criminals are Moving Away from Bitcoin

Bitcoin used to be the preferred payment method of cybercriminals. Last year, we reported that the hackers behind the WannaCry ransomware infected PCs worldwide, and demanded payment in the form of Bitcoin from their victims. Hackers asked for Bitcoin because...
June 29, 2018

SamSam Ransomware Infection And Decryption Services

SamSam ransomware (also known as Samas, SamSamCrypt, and MSIL) is a quickly evolving type of malware that targets hospitals, municipalities, and other large organizations. After installing malicious software through compromised servers, the hackers encrypt network files, making them unusable, and...
April 11, 2018

City of Atlanta Hit by SamSam Ransomware

A ransomware attack on the city of Atlanta on Mar. 22 has left officials scrambling to provide services to residents. Many critical services, like public-safety and wastewater treatment, have been unaffected. Meanwhile, other systems have ground to a halt or...
April 1, 2018

Only Half of Ransomware Payments Resulted in Decrypted Files

A report from a leading research firm found a startling statistic for 2017: only half of ransomware victims who paid a ransom were able to successfully decrypt their files. These findings and others in the report offer even more incentive...
March 21, 2018

SamSam Ransomware Infects CDOT

SamSam ransomware has infected thousands of computers at the Colorado Department of Transportation. Over 2,000 employee computers were shut down to stop the spread of the malware after it was discovered on Feb. 21, and systems are still not back...
March 19, 2018

US and Britain Blame Russian Military for NotPetya

British and US officials publicly blamed Russia for the NotPetya ransomware attack that occurred on June 27, 2017. Ukrainian organizations, including the state power company and Kiev’s main airport, were among the first to report being affected, and approximately 80 ...
February 20, 2018

Malware Report Sheds Light on Underreported Cybercrimes

A New York Times report revealed that law enforcement investigating cybercrimes can face many challenges including incomplete data, outdated statistical categories, and a lack of funding for cyber divisions. These problems hinder the solving of not just digital crimes, but...
February 7, 2018

Cybercriminals Ditch Bitcoin in Search of Better Cryptocurrency

Cybercriminals are embracing alternative cryptocurrencies due to a multitude of concerns over bitcoin. Bitcoin’s newfound popularity has led to booming and busting prices, higher transaction fees, and longer wait times to confirm transactions. Harder-to-trace and cheaper-to-use digital currencies such as...
January 25, 2018

Indiana Hospital Pays $55,000 to Get Rid of Ransomware

On January 11, Hancock Health became the latest medical center to fall victim to a ransomware attack. The Greenfield, Indiana hospital says its files were backed up, but opted to pay the $55,000 ransom anyway to more quickly restore its...
January 24, 2018

Cybersecurity Still a Major Issue for the Internet of Things

Early last year, we warned that the Internet of Things (IoT) had major security vulnerabilities, and it was a matter of time until hackers targeted it. And while smart devices have largely evaded ransomware attacks (though some IoT devices were...
January 11, 2018