{"id":58180,"date":"2017-10-23T10:52:55","date_gmt":"2017-10-23T15:52:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pcmatic.com\/blog\/?p=58180"},"modified":"2017-10-23T10:52:55","modified_gmt":"2017-10-23T15:52:55","slug":"ransomware-demand-increases-2500","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pcmatic.com\/blog\/ransomware-demand-increases-2500\/","title":{"rendered":"Ransomware Demand Increases 2500%"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ransomware Sales Exploding on the Dark Web<\/h3>\n

According to International Business Times<\/a> (IBT), a new study <\/a>was released confirming a significant rise in demand for the malicious software, ransomware.\u00a0 The study showed 6,300 websites offering ransomware, with an additional 45,000 ads promoting the malicious software.\u00a0 The price points ranged from $0.50 to $3,000.\u00a0 The large variation in prices is due to the content the buyer would receive.\u00a0 Ransomware variants, sold as a standalone product, are selling at a minimal cost.\u00a0 This is because the hackers also have to integrate the malware code into an execution method, set up a payment method, and establish a decryption tool — if they wish to offer a decryption feature.\u00a0 The higher price points are for ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS).\u00a0 This includes not only the malicious software, but\u00a0also the distribution channels, payment portals, and decryptor tools to unlock files.<\/p>\n

IBT also reported<\/a>,<\/p>\n

“The year-to-date figures for ransomware sales in 2017 shows total revenue at $6,237,248.90. By comparison, the sales figures from 2016 for ransomware didn\u2019t even crack a quarter of a million, totaling $249,287.05. That marks a total growth in sales of 2,502 percent.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

How to Stay Protected<\/h4>\n

In order to keep your data protected from the growing threat of ransomware, it is important PC users follow these basic steps:<\/p>\n