University pays $20,000 to ransomware hackers
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Re: University pays $20,000 to ransomware hackers
#2Why openly announce that you're paying the ransom?
Here's some major disadvantages that I can think of:
1. Announces to world that you have poor security/backup practices which encourages more attacks against you
2. Announces to world that making and distributing ransomware is good business which encourages more attacks against everyone
I understand that public institutions needs financial transparency in order to be accountable to the public. But the nature of this isn't any different from, for example, a basement flooded due to poor design and required $20,000 to fix. Someone screwed up, and it cost the university $20,000. Let's just pay the money, fix the problem, and take steps to make sure it doesn't happen again. No need to call up the local paper about it and make it a story.
Re: University pays $20,000 to ransomware hackers
#3I guess no backup strategy means no other option but to pay. Likely goes hand in hand with weak or missing security strategy.
Re: University pays $20,000 to ransomware hackers
#4Why openly announce that you're paying the ransom? Here's some major disadvantages that I can think of: 1. Announces to world that you have poor security/backup practices which encourages more attacks against you 2. Announces to world that making and distributing ransomware is good business which encourages more attacks against everyone I understand that public institutions needs financial transparency in order to be…
Raise public awareness?
Re: University pays $20,000 to ransomware hackers
#5I guess no backup strategy means no other option but to pay. Likely goes hand in hand with weak or missing security strategy.
people who backup their stuff laugh at ransomware
Re: University pays $20,000 to ransomware hackers
#6With 20,000$ could get a nice backup system.
Re: University pays $20,000 to ransomware hackers
#7With $20,000 one could get a really nice backup system.
Re: University pays $20,000 to ransomware hackers
#8With $20,000 one could get a really nice backup system.
yeah, well, I guess they were a little late..
Re: University pays $20,000 to ransomware hackers
#9If you're a Windows programmer, might be a good idea to write a Windows Service that watches for drive encryption. Then you could stop it before it does anything. For now, I think most of the methods are known, so they are easy to watch for.
Re: University pays $20,000 to ransomware hackers
#10The headline could also be "University willingly supports criminals with $20.000" - and it would be more honest.
That's really something that bothers me with the whole ransomware thing: People seem to be completely ignorant to the fact that by paying they're not only getting back their data - they're paying the bills for the people who will launch more attacks against other people. And thus they're themselve guilty of supporting the same crime that just hit them.