Paying ransom to the perpetrators of Ransomware-type cyber attacks is not a solution for the victims of such attacks.
A prime example of the above statement is a new case of a Ransomware-type cyber attack, which is being investigated by the Cybercrime Sub-Directorate. The case was reported by a company, which suffered such an attack, resulting in all its files being locked. According to the complaint, in order to decrypt the files, the perpetrators demanded a ransom payment in cryptocurrency.
Company officials paid the perpetrators the sum of $7,500 in cryptocurrency. However, instead of decrypting all the files, the perpetrators unlocked only a small portion of them, asking for a new ransom payment to unlock the remaining files.
On the occasion of this case, the Police recommends that the public should not deal with cyber criminals under any circumstances.
In such cases, victims of cyber crime are advised to contact the Police and the Cyber Crime Sub-Division immediately to report the case and receive assistance.
Ransomware is a malicious software that is secretly installed on the victim's electronic device and puts the victim's data in a hostage situation. In this way, criminals block the victim's access to some or all of their computer data. They even ask the victim to pay them a certain amount of money as ransom, so that they can release the computer and the victim can recover his data.
For information or to report a case, you can contact the Cybercrime Sub-Directorate, via the website www.cyberalert.cy, or by calling 22-808200 or via the online platform for complaints/information on cybercrime issues.
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