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Cybercrime: How Russia tops as ransomware source

Cybercrime is not a misnomer in today’s technology-driven world. It is occurring more commonly than estimated and a large tally of people are targeted by it. A UK cybersecurity agency has made a revelation – Russia and neighboring Soviet countries outside the Baltic region are the top sources of ransomware in form of extortion made online against British businesses and organizations. Ransomware must be treated as “the most immediate danger” of all forms of cybercrimes witnessed by the UK, said Lindy Cameron, the chief executive of the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

During a speech to the Chatham House think tank, Cameron said, “We – along with the NCA [National Crime Agency] – assess that cybercriminals based in Russia and neighboring countries are responsible for most of the devastating ransomware attacks against UK targets.” 

London’s Hackney Council was strongly hit by a ransomware attack in 2020 October. Though the council refused to pay the ransom demands, it is estimated that fixing the hack cost up to £10m. The attack had impacted housing benefits for months together.

Russia has been long accused of sheltering cybercriminals who extort vulnerable businesses and entities online, at the slightest opportunity made available. UK’s former foreign secretary Dominic Raab too said in May that Russia performs of not having any links to or knowledge about the cybercrimes originating from its land, but it is far from reality. Post the statements by Raab, other Western powers to have started pressing the issue with Kremlin. US President Joe Biden has discussed the issue with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, asserting that the US won’t shy away from attacking computer servers of cyber-gangs if no action was taken. 

Hackers usually enter the systems to encrypt and take control of the crucial data, demanding a hefty ransom to fix the system and allow the entity full access. But the hackers constantly evolve their modus operandi. Cameron said, “In addition to shutting down an organization’s ability to function, many now also threaten to publish exfiltrated data on the dark web.”

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