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Ransomware Surveys Fill In Scope, Scale of Extortion Epidemic
Threaded  |  Newest First  |  Oldest First
BPID Security
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BPID Security,
 User Rank: Strategist
11/21/2016 | 10:10:36 AM
Ransomware defense strategy
The concept of ransomeware is insidious, not just that it encrypts but that it can be forwarded via email to all your email recipients.

That being stipulated, it should be rather easy to have the OS, or any OS, monitor activities for encryption and notify users of questionably nefarious activities.

Online game makers have long ago created CPU process monitors to prevent realtime game 'cheating'.

The function is simple to understand, monitor for encryption code running in the cpu rather than the contents of an executale. Then stop it unless the user permits. Otherwise send it to AV for cleanup. Building it is a bit more complex as was the one my firm built for a client. Really the CPU resources and disk activity of full disk encryption is really easy to detect.

Ransomware exists because we make computers with an interface non technical people can use, It wouldn't live very long in a command line OS. Holding users responsible for their failures just adds more stuff people will ignore. It is the responsibility of the service, software or vendor to protect the user.

As an analogy: If you rent a hotel room for a night, go to dinner and your door doesn't lock, and someone comes in and spray paints the room and your possessions, who is ultmately responsible for the loss? You as temporary rentor of the service, or the security of the hotel?

We need legislation to clearly identify responsibility and the limits of that responsibility.

Still, it is a problem that technology created, one that is beyond the technical expertise of most users, and one that is solvable through intelligent technology.
T Sweeney
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T Sweeney,
 User Rank: Moderator
11/21/2016 | 10:45:49 AM
Re: Ransomware defense strategy
Thanks for your post, BPID... we hear this same refrain with each new threat type that emerges: Vendors can fix this in software without involving the user. And yet here we are again!

I'd welcome better insight as to what happens on the vendor or developer side. Is ransomware prevention just one more thing in the OS security equivalent of whack-a-mole? Do vendors only see costs that they won't recoup?
ClaireEllison
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ClaireEllison,
 User Rank: Apprentice
11/21/2016 | 4:17:38 PM
Re: amazing
Excellent article plus its information and I positively bookmark to this site because here I always get an amazing knowledge as I expect.
Dr.T
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Dr.T,
 User Rank: Ninja
11/27/2016 | 2:26:25 PM
Re: amazing
I agree quite valuable information. Well written.
Benefiter
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Benefiter,
 User Rank: Apprentice
11/28/2016 | 9:46:54 AM
2 przykazania miłości Modlitwa do Ducha Świętego o wyproszenie łask

It's actually a cool and useful piece of information. I am glad that you shared this helpful information with us.
ClaireEllison
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ClaireEllison,
 User Rank: Apprentice
11/21/2016 | 4:20:42 PM
Re: Iamazing
Excellent article plus its information 
Dr.T
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Dr.T,
 User Rank: Ninja
11/27/2016 | 2:22:26 PM
Re: Ransomware defense strategy
"Vendors can fix this in software without involving the user". It may be hard to fix security problems with software solutions. It involves users at the end.
Joe Stanganelli
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Joe Stanganelli,
 User Rank: Ninja
11/27/2016 | 11:19:40 PM
Re: Ransomware defense strategy
FWIW, virtualized sandboxing has been shown to be an effective countermeasure against ransomware -- and, indeed, that some forms of modern ransomware even actively scan for virtualized instances and decline to install if they find any (lest they be subjected to reverse engineering).
Dr.T
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Dr.T,
 User Rank: Ninja
11/27/2016 | 2:24:59 PM
Re: Ransomware defense strategy
"Do vendors only see costs that they won't recoup?" I do not know the answer but this has become an industry going beyond vendors I say.
Joe Stanganelli
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Joe Stanganelli,
 User Rank: Ninja
11/25/2016 | 5:30:41 PM
Re: Ransomware defense strategy
Good points.  This is why I preferred the days of MS-DOS.  After I was compelled to upgrade, my understanding of my computer and its processes severely diminished.
Dr.T
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Dr.T,
 User Rank: Ninja
11/27/2016 | 2:30:27 PM
Re: Ransomware defense strategy
"This is why I preferred the days of MS-DOS.". MS-DOS may also be used for randsomware, maybe easier in the command line actually I would say.
Joe Stanganelli
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Joe Stanganelli,
 User Rank: Ninja
11/27/2016 | 10:54:30 PM
Re: Ransomware defense strategy
@Dr. T: The whole point goes to understanding.

If you're using an OS based in the command line, whether Unix, old-school MS-DOS, or whatever, you naturally have to know much more about what's going on on your machine than the average MacOSX or Windows user.  As such, you're more of a power user and in general will position yourself better.
Dr.T
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Dr.T,
 User Rank: Ninja
11/27/2016 | 2:12:31 PM
Re: Ransomware defense strategy
"The concept of ransomeware is insidious, not just that it encrypts but that it can be forwarded via email to all your email recipients." It makes sense, at the end of the day went something not accessible by owner so they can get money of it.
Dr.T
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Dr.T,
 User Rank: Ninja
11/27/2016 | 2:18:54 PM
Re: Ransomware defense strategy
"Ransomware exists because we make computers with an interface non technical people can use" I agree, I also think preventing from randsomware is more non-technical than non-technical.
Dr.T
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Dr.T,
 User Rank: Ninja
11/27/2016 | 2:36:18 PM
Re: Ransomware defense strategy
"one that is solvable through intelligent technology." I agree with this on the basis, however technology would certainly to help to minimize the risk of it.
Dr.T
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Dr.T,
 User Rank: Ninja
11/27/2016 | 2:39:58 PM
Re: Ransomware defense strategy
"We need legislation to clearly identify responsibility and the limits of that responsibility. " I agree with this. Added to that it needs to clarify accountability for the offenders.
ClaireEllison
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ClaireEllison,
 User Rank: Apprentice
11/27/2016 | 2:47:55 PM
Re: Industry
Excellent article plus its information and I positively bookmark to this site because here I always get an amazing knowledge as I expect.
Dr.T
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Dr.T,
 User Rank: Ninja
11/27/2016 | 2:09:45 PM
Randsomware industry
Randsomware has become a new industry, we need more regulations and accountability on it to keep it at minimum damage.
T Sweeney
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T Sweeney,
 User Rank: Moderator
11/27/2016 | 2:24:50 PM
Re: Randsomware industry
Thanks for your comment, Dr. T. What kind of regulations do you think would have an impact on the proliferation of ransomware, or its infection rates?
Dr.T
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Dr.T,
 User Rank: Ninja
11/27/2016 | 2:33:21 PM
Re: Randsomware industry
"What kind of regulations do you think would have an impact on the proliferation of ransomware". I do not have a specific example but monetary and jail time for the offenders would discourage it I would think.
Joe Stanganelli
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Joe Stanganelli,
 User Rank: Ninja
11/27/2016 | 10:55:36 PM
Re: Randsomware industry
We don't need more regulation or laws here.  This is already covered by existing laws and regulations (standard wire-fraud laws, plus the CFAA, for starters).
Joe Stanganelli
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Joe Stanganelli,
 User Rank: Ninja
11/27/2016 | 11:01:03 PM
Re: Randsomware industry
@Terry: The only way I see regulation having an impact here is if it regulates businesses in certain sectors (e.g., healthcare, financial services, etc.) to specifically refuse to pay ransoms or set limits on the amounts they can pay -- and make the penalties for paying ransoms so substantial that such businesses would be compelled to not so pay.

And, as such, those regulations would be completely unworkable.  If a hospital's data is held ransom, human lives and limbs are at stake.  If a financial services' firm or even a generic Fortune 50 firm is held hostage, the entire global economy is at stake.

If those working in public policy really want to make a difference here, the solution is not regulation or legislation but rather better investment in improving cybersecurity.
Lily652
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Lily652,
 User Rank: Moderator
12/11/2016 | 1:13:05 PM
prayer times

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Lily652
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50%
Lily652,
 User Rank: Moderator
12/11/2016 | 1:13:22 PM
prayer times

Nice to see this impressive article and wanna say thanks a lot for providing this much pretty info. I would like to share this with my friends to explore more about this



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