Security Researchers said that hackers use such softwares to target large-scale networks and hold data hostage in exchange for whopping payments. Last month, this strain called as Samas or samsam hit the leading hospital chain, MedStar Health Inc. It has been witnessed that particularly in such attacks, hackers target backup files and records by encrypting them to prevent the victim from accessing them. Victim can regain the access to the hostage files by paying hefty amount normally $10,000 – $15,000 for full network or $100 – $1000 or more for a single computer. If the victim is having essential data in computers so he/she has only one option, i.e is to pay huge ransom. Most ransomware still needs a human click or open infected email attachment however Cisco’s report warned that the age of self propagating ransomware is right around the corner. Last year, there were about 2500 reports of ransomware hackings to the FBI totalling a loss of more than $24 Million.
