Ruthless Ransomers

Published: May 3, 2022, 7:05 a.m.

It\u2019s a strange situation when someone can hold something hostage from halfway around the world. It\u2019s tragic when your own pictures and files are remotely encrypted. But when it\u2019s a hospital\u2019s system? Ransomware becomes a problem about life or death. \n\nEddy Willems recounts his involvement in defeating an early ransomware attack that targeted AIDS researchers. At the time, there was a way to discover the encryption key. But as Moti Yung warned, asymmetric encryption would change everything. In the years since, ransomware attacks have become much more popular\u2014thanks in part to the rise of cryptocurrencies. While criminals think it\u2019s an anonymous way to collect payment, Sheila Warren tells us that the opposite is actually true.