News with the tag "Ransom"

The FBI is issuing an alert over an ongoing ransomware campaign known as “Medusa” that’s hit hundreds of victims. Medusa is a type of malicious software first discovered in 2021 that encrypts its victims’ files before demanding a ransom in exchange for a decryption key. Medusa actors typically gain ...

Six men are accused of kidnapping three family members and their nanny from a Chicago townhouse in October 2024 in exchange for a crypto-ransom. Before being freed next to a dry cleaners, the victims were allegedly kept for five days and forced into handing over almost $15 million in Bitcoin (BTC) h...

International authorities are ramping up their efforts to stop groups and individuals using the LockBit ransomware to target unsuspecting users. The latest was the crackdown on the Russia-based Zservers , a bulletproof hosting service provider that allegedly had links with the LockBit cryptocurrency...

The United States, United Kingdom, and Australia have jointly imposed sanctions on Zservers, a Russia-based bulletproof hosting (BPH) service provider accused of facilitating ransomware operations, particularly for the notorious LockBit ransomware group. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office ...

The global ransomware ecosystem saw a huge shift in 2024, with total ransom payments decreasing by approximately 35% year-over-year, according to a Chainalysis report. In our latest preview chapter for the 2025 Crypto Crime Report, we look at how the ransomware landscape changed in 2024. Here are so...

Ransomware gangs had a lucrative 2023, extorting a record-breaking $1.25 billion in ransomware payments. However, in 2024, the narrative changed. Chainalysis, a blockchain analytics firm, recently revealed that ransomware payments dropped 35% to $813 million. This marks a sharp decline, signaling a ...

Ransomware attacks surged last year, but victim payments declined as users refused to meet demands amid increased recovery efficiency by law enforcement. The lucrative ransomware business earned less from victim payouts year-over-year despite a rise in attacks launched by bad actors in 2024, accordi...

The ransomware business took a hit in 2024, with payments falling 35% year-over-year, according to a new report from Chainalysis. Though the number of ransomware attacks increased in 2024, ransomware gangs made less money, pulling in $814 million compared to 2023’s record-high sum of $1.25 billion. ...

French authorities have reportedly rescued the co-founder of hardware wallet firm Ledger and his wife after they were kidnapped and held for ransom. According to a new article by The New York Times, Dave Balland and his wife were abducted from their home in France earlier this week by bad actors who...

The United Kingdom has launched a consultation to explore a ban that would prevent operators of critical national infrastructure from paying ransomware cybercriminals.