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You might receive an innocuous looking email \u2013 it might even look like it\u2019s from your boss \u2013 asking you to click on a link. Watch out! It could be the start of a ransomware attack. Over the last year cybersecurity experts say that the number of ransomware attacks has grown exponentially. During the pandemic lockdowns criminal hackers have been able to exploit the vulnerabilities inherent in the increase in homeworking to infiltrate computer systems, shut them down and then demand a ransom to restore services, or even to stop publishing data they\u2019ve stolen. Along with the increased volume of attacks, the level of ransom demands has grown.\nUsing new technology and techniques, this has become a lucrative business for international criminal gangs, with individuals, businesses, schools, hospitals and charities all targeted.

Joining David Aaronovitch in the Briefing Room to discuss ransomware attacks are:

Emily Taylor, CEO of Oxford Information Labs and Editor of Chatham House's Journal of Cyber Policy\nSadie Creese, Professor of Cyber Security at the University of Oxford \nGeoff White, investigative journalist and author and presenter of the BBC\u2019s podcast series, The Lazarus Heist\nSusan Landau, Bridge Professor of Cyber Security and Policy at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and the School of Engineering, Department of Computer Science, Tufts University\n \nProducers: John Murphy, Sally Abrahams and Imogen Serwotka\nSound Engineer: James Beard\nEditor: Jasper Corbett