But fake ransomware is even more insidious and dangerous.
How Does Ransomware Work?
In a real-life ransom, a kidnapper captures a person and holds them prisoner.
Often criminals subcontract parts of the work, employing a third party to provide penetration and encryption services.
What Is Fake Ransomware?
Ransomware attacks have been carried out since at least 1989.
Organizations can then pour additional resources into strengthening connection defenses to resist this kind of attack.
At first glance, there’s no way to tell fake ransomware apart from real ransomware.
You wake up, grab a cup of tea, and turn on your PC.
But sending the funds is the last interaction you’ll have with the criminals.
You’ve lost the ransom and the data.
Why Does Fake Ransomware Exist?
Encrypting data takes time, and maintaining a channel of communication with the victim is risky.
It’s far easier for criminals to take the money and run.
This will doubtless annoy different criminals, as it erodes trust in their “honest” ransomware business model.
You Should Never Pay Ransomware Demands
When you receive a ransomware demand, you should ignore it.
If you pay the ransom, there’s no guarantee that your data will be decrypted.
Money raised by ransomware goes to funding more criminal activity.
Instead, use the ransom money to beef up your machine security so this doesn’t happen again.
