In a way, I’m almost surprised hackers didn’t think of this before, but now that it is exists, I loathe its development… Ransomware:
Security researchers at San Diego-based Websense Inc. uncovered the unusual extortion plot when a corporate customer they would not identify fell victim to the infection, which encrypted files that included documents, photographs and spreadsheets.
A ransom note left behind included an e-mail address, and the attacker using the address later demanded $200 for the digital keys to unlock the files.
It’s going to be interesting to see if this really catches on. In a way though, the traceability of most non-cash payment systems in the post-9/11 environment would make such a proposition risky; an elaborate scheme would have to be put in place in order for investigators to lose the money trail.