Cybersecurity

75% Of Crypto Ransomware Came From Russian-Speaking Cybercriminal Underground, Study Says

At least 47 out of 62 new crypto ransomware families discovered by Kaspersky Lab researchers in 2016 were developed by Russian-speaking cybercriminals, more than 1,445,000 users (including businesses) around the globe were attacked by this type of malware.

These and other findings are included in an overview of the Russian-speaking ransomware underground performed by Kaspersky Lab researchers. “The review also highlights that small groups with limited capabilities are transforming into large criminal enterprises that have the resources and intent to attack private and corporate targets worldwide,” the company said in an announcement.

According to its “telemetry,” the company said “in 2016 more than 1,445,000 users (including businesses) around the globe were attacked by this type of malware. In the overview, one of the major conclusions is that the increase in crypto ransomware attacks observed in recent years is the result of a very flexible and user-friendly underground ecosystem, allowing criminals to launch crypto ransomware attack campaigns with almost any level of computer skills and financial resources."