Ransomware, cyber attacks of this type increased by 41%

Ransomware is a common practice in which a hacker can ask for a 'ransom' money after infecting the victim's PC.

Ransomware attacks increased by 41% in 2019

This would work as follows, a file is downloaded and opened on your PC (usually by email and often "accidentally" by the user). Once opened, the file encrypts all the documents on your PC, and the next time you start it, you will receive an alarming message saying that you will have to pay a fine to get your files back. If you don't, they will block you forever. Hence the term 'Ransomware'. Your files are literally being hijacked.

A research group has found that overall Ransomware attacks increased by 41% in 2019. Worse yet, the average payout to these blackmailers also increased.

In the report, it was found that 205, 280 organizations reported having issues with data hijacking in 2019. This, based on 2018, is where the 41% peak comes from.

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What makes all of this so much worse, however, is that it seems that more and more companies have been paying the ransom. The report found that the average payment has been around $ 190, 000. This only fuels more and more attacks in the future.

Microsoft has referred to it and recommends not paying this ransom so as not to further promote the practice. As a private user, it is recommended not to open or click on any link that is not from a trusted source.