Blockchain Advocacy Group Bitcoin CrimeBitcoin ScamsNews FBI Now Says Don’t Pay Bitcoin to Ransomware Extortionists Rebecca Campbell Advertisement: The FBI has changed its stance on ransomware extortionists saying people targeted should refuse to pay the bitcoin ransom despite a previous statement from the FBI encouraging victims to pay a ransom.At a recent Federal Trade Commission’s Fall Technology Series, supervisory special agent for the FBI’s Cyber Division, Will Bales, said that businesses or individuals targeted by ransomware should refuse to pay the ransom, as reported in Dark Reading.He said: People have to remember that ransomware does not affect just one person or one business.It will more than likely move on and affect somebody else.And for those who pay the ransom, it only encourages them to extort the next person.According to the U.S.Justice Department, ransomware attacks quadrupled in 2016 with an average of 4,000 per day.The FBI has previously revealed that ransomware costs amounted to $209 million in the first three months of this year.

This is compared to a total of $24 million for the twelve months of 2015.PhishMe research found that 93 percent of phishing emails now contain some form of ransomware.The FBI Changes Its Advice It seems that the FBI has had a change of heart regarding its advice with ransomware extortionists.As previously reported by CCN, special agent at FBI’s Cyber and counterintelligence program, Joseph Bonavolonta, said: The ransomware is that good.To be honest, we often advise people just to pay the ransom.Victims are now being asked to contact the FBI with any information they have to help advance the FBI’s ransomware investigation.No Immunity to Ransomware Targets Earlier this year, CCN reported that a Canadian university had to pay a ransom amounting to $20,000 Canadian dollars worth of bitcoins to receive the keys to restore its data.While three banks and a pharmaceutical company in India were targeted by ransomware extortionists who demanded a ransom in bitcoin last year.A police department in Massachusetts also found itself the target of ransomware after the Melrose Police Department had to pay one bitcoin in ransom to regain access to its files.

Additionally, at the beginning of the year,  the Charity Commission in the U.K.issued an alert to all charities about an extortionist group demanding payments in bitcoin.The group, RepKiller Team, stated that if they didn’t receive bitcoin payments from £300 – £500, those targeted would face cyberattacks.For now, the FBI seem to be issuing the correct advice.The malware ransom attack on Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center — which prompted the facility to pay a $17,000 ransom in bitcoin to the hacker who seized control of the hospital's computer systems — is part of a larger problem that is generating outrage.The hospital attack has prompted a California state senator to propose making it an extortion crime for a hacker to infect a computer system with so-called ransomware.Last year, a small police department outside Boston paid a $500 ransom after an attack by hackers.A similar payment was made by a sheriff's department in Maine.The cyberattack is made when a malware program engages as soon as a victim clicks on a compromised website.

The virus then locks the victim’s computer.In warning about the problem several years ago, local law enforcement said computers often display a fake message purporting to be from the FBI or Department of Justice, claiming that the user’s Internet address has been associated with child pornography sites or other illegal activity.The malware program tells users they can unlock their computers by making a payment through a money card service.The assault on Hollywood Presbyterian occurred Feb.ethereum vasarlas5 when hackers using malware infected the institution's computers, preventing hospital staff from being able to communicate from those devices, Chief Executive Allen Stefanek.circle bitcoin weekly limitThe hacker demanded 40 bitcoin, the equivalent of about $17,000, he said.bitcoin chart script

See more of our top stories on Facebook >>“The malware locks systems by encrypting files and demanding ransom to obtain the decryption key.The quickest and most efficient way to restore our systems and administrative functions was to pay the ransom and obtain the decryption key,” Stefanek said.bitcoin public mining pool“In the best interest of restoring normal operations, we did this.”The hospital said it alerted authorities and was able to regain control of all of its computer systems by Monday, with the assistance of technology experts.Stefanek said patient care was never compromised, nor were hospital records.Sen.ethereum record priceBob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys) introduced legislation this week that would stiffen penalties against hackers, with those convicted of ransomware schemes receiving up to four years in prison.bitcoin playground

“Nearly every day we read in the news about data breaches and online criminal activity,” Hertzberg said in a statement.“We must be clear that we will not tolerate this kind of conduct, and that using modern tactics to engage in age-old thuggery of ransom and extortion do not change the seriousness of the crime.”Top hospital officials called the Los Angeles Police Department last week, according to police Lt.bitcoin stolen on airJohn Jenal.Laura Eimiller, an FBI spokeswoman, said the bureau has taken over the hacking investigation but declined to discuss specifics of the case.bitcoin rate graph in indiaLaw enforcement sources told The Times that the hospital paid the ransom before reaching out to law enforcement for assistance.Phil Lieberman, a cybersecurity expert, said that while ransomware attacks are common, targeting a medical institution is not.“I have never heard of this kind of attack trying to shut down a hospital.litecoin ltc/usd