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Scrape Timestamp (UTC): 2024-01-10 20:00:23.885
Source: https://www.theregister.com/2024/01/10/ransomware_kettle/
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Be honest. Would you pay off a ransomware crew?. Today us vultures are debating bans on ransom payments, deplorable tactics by extortionists, and more. Kettle Believe us, we wish there was a simple solution that could stop ransomware dead in its tracks for good. But we all know life is not that easy. Nor is it hopeless. There are plenty of ways to fend off extortionists. Some have suggested a total ban on ransom payments will help curb attacks, and we sympathize with that view. There is perhaps a discussion to be had, though, over the effectiveness of such a ban, as set out in this opinion piece my colleague Jess wrote the other day. We feel it's worth debating. Today we delve deeper into that topic, and the deplorable tactics criminals are using to put extra pressure on victims, such as threatening to call police SWAT teams on cancer patients. You can replay that chat below – or listen via your favorite podcast distributor: RSS and MP3, Apple, Amazon, Spotify, and Google. On today's 16-ish-minute show we have, clockwise from top left in the thumbnail, vultures Chris Williams, Brandon Vigliarolo, Jessica Lyons Hardcastle, and host Iain Thomson. This episode was produced and edited by Nicole Hemsoth Prickett. You can find previous Kettles right here.
Daily Brief Summary
Ransomware continues to be a significant threat with evolving extortion tactics that pressure organizations and individuals.
A debate is ongoing regarding the effectiveness of a total ban on ransomware payments to deter future attacks.
Opinions vary on how such a ban would influence the behavior of cybercriminals and the spread of ransomware.
Criminals are resorting to increasingly unethical measures, such as threatening to involve law enforcement against victims, to compel payment.
The podcast episode discusses the nuanced perspectives on whether forbidding ransom payouts could be an effective strategy.
With no straightforward solution to halt ransomware, the focus is on finding the most effective means to reduce its impact and prevalence.
Relevant discussions can be accessed through various podcast platforms, highlighting the current state and potential strategies against ransomware threats.