
Police, Cyber Firms Tackle 'ransomware' Hacking Threat
Fahad Shabbir (@FahadShabbir) Published July 25, 2016 | 05:04 PM

THE HAGUE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th july,2016) : Dutch police, Europol and a coalition of cyber security firms launched a new website Monday to fight a surge in "ransomware" which locks users' data until they pay criminals to retrieve it. The "No More Ransom" initiative is the new online portal "aimed at informing the public about the dangers of ransomware and helping victims to recover their data without having to pay ransoms to cyber criminals," said a combined statement, issued from Europol's Hague-based headquarters. The website www.nomoreransom.org offers advice on how to avoid data being taken hostage by ransomware, as well as more than 160,000 decryption keys in the event of a computer being infected. Hackers have been stepping up efforts to turn their exploits into hard cash in recent years by locking unsuspecting computer users' data after infecting their computers with malicious software.
Kaspersky Lab, one of the tech firms supporting the project, said the number of victims attacked by so-called crypto-ransomware was growing by an alarming rate -- rising from 131,000 in 2014-15 to 718,000 in 2015-16. "Ransomware is a top threat for EU law enforcement," added Monday's statement.
"Almost two-thirds of EU member states are conducting investigations into this form of attack." Chief technical officer Steve Grobman from Intel Security, one of the other tech firms involved in the scheme, said in March the practice is growing due to several factors -- easy access to necessary software, criminal networks which offer the service, and the difficulty of tracking down the culprits who are able to hide in anonymous networks.
Related Topics
Recent Stories

Ahmed bin Mohammed attends AMF 2023 session featuring GCC Secretary General

Speaker of FNC, Chairman of State Duma review strengthening cooperation

Over 5.7 million employees subscribed to Unemployment Insurance Scheme: MoHRE

UAE, Netherlands to collaborate on sustainability, energy transition, advanced t ..

Zaki Nusseibeh inaugurates Roots’ exhibition at Alliance Francaise Abu Dhabi

Ahmed bin Mohammed attends AMF 2023 session featuring GCC Secretary General

SMA invites specialists to contribute to its journal's 4th issue

Dubai Media Council signs MoU with Egypt’s Supreme Council for Media Regulatio ..

Fujairah Crown Prince attends launch of Fujairah International Mining Forum, app ..

Presight appoints QMM as liquidity provider to enhance trading on ADX

Emirates Post Group shortlists three groups for ‘Logistics Unleashed’ compet ..

Sultan of Oman receives Sharjah Ruler in Muscat
More Stories From World
-
The strategic yet isolated Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhchivan
1 day ago -
Egypt announces presidential vote on December 10-12
1 day ago -
Kosovo marks day of mourning after deadly clashes in troubled north
1 day ago -
Azerbaijan vows to guarantee rights of Karabakh Armenians
1 day ago -
Germany's housing sector slumps into crisis
1 day ago -
Indonesia to regulate social media sales soon: leader
1 day ago
-
US to 'evaluate' next steps after French announce Niger withdrawal: Austin
1 day ago -
US Abrams battle tanks arrive in Ukraine, Zelensky says
1 day ago -
Mali's junta delays February presidential election
1 day ago -
US Abrams tanks have arrived in Ukraine: Zelensky
1 day ago -
Ukraine says Russian Black Sea fleet commander killed in attack
1 day ago -
Russian soldier missing after attack on Crimea naval HQ: Moscow
4 days ago