Ransomware Is Actually Killing One American Per Month

Ransom payments for cyberattacks should be banned to effectively combat the menace, says cybersecurity firm Emsisoft. Governments and international groups have so far failed to stop ransomware attacks which have grown more frequent and aggressive. Banning payments, although painful and likely to cause a short-term spike in attacks, could potentially reduce them in the long run, as ransomware is a profit-motivated crime. Ransom averages rose from $5,000 in 2018 to $1.5m last year.