Spain busts ransomware ring
Authorities in Spain have busted a ring of computer criminals. Their speciality: Ransomware, an infuriating kind of computer attack where a virus gets introduced that locks up the computer system and demands a cash ransom. Most of those arrested were Russians allegedly operating out of two resort cities along Spain’s mediterrean coast.
Spanish authorities say they’d received nearly 800,000 complaints about the virus. There were 1,200 victims in more than 30 countries with most concentrated in Europe.
Cyrus Farivar at the tech publican Ars Technica, who has been following the story, joins Marketplace Tech host David Brancaccio to break down the story and explain how you can protect yourself.
There’s a lot happening in the world. Through it all, Marketplace is here for you.
You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible.
Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.
