A simple solution to the "ransomware" problem

https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2017/03/23/12/56/security-2168233_960_720.jpg

After the latest "ransomware" attacks, in which hackers exploit known vulnerabilities in operating systems (known at least by the NSA), and given that most ransomware attacks are blamed on cryptocurrencies, one has to wonder why is the focus so much on cryptocurrencies instead of the incentives?

To be clear, I'm not talking about this case in particular - where the focus is more on the NSA rather than cryptocurrencies, but generally speaking it's always about a story that paints bitcoin in a negative light because bad hackers, who want this evil currency, go after hospitals, patient data, etc etc - which is a very damaging narrative.

Having said that, the incentive to blackmail is based on the possibility that the hacker can gain money. If it was made illegal to pay for ransomware attacks, then the incentive for such attacks should be eliminated.

If you can't blackmail a government or a corporation, because they are prohibited by law to pay the hacker, then the attack is dead-on-arrival (DOA).

But then how would they blame cryptocurrencies... right?

74 upvotes $1.02

Replies (12)

olympusm810

@cryptocash·May 12, 2017, 9:11 PM UTC

nice post :) https://68.media.tumblr.com/b4a65501f180defff5ddcd12a3ced9c6/tumblr_mnsbf047iw1r7smtto1_250.gif

1 upvotes $0.00

Acid

@acidyo·May 12, 2017, 9:13 PM UTC

I agree. Just cause the currencies can be used for that, combined with a much larger usage for other more positive things, doesn't mean it has to be the thing they put the blame on.

"Oh our school got hacked and they demanded bitcoins to unhack it, damn if those bitcoins didn't exist this wouldn't have happened."

que movie where ransomers get money transferred to their Swiss Bank accounts or something similar.

Its just bad source of news and having to shift the blame onto something instead of admitting they were the ones incompetent to handle the situation or be prepared for it.

2 upvotes $0.02

BuilderOfCastles

@builderofcastles·May 12, 2017, 9:30 PM UTC

A law wouldn't do anything to this.
Blackmail material is something damning, and often criminal.
So, you already did something criminal, is breaking the law going to stop you from trying to keep it covered up?

A strong self that doesn't give in to terrorists is a solution.
But, you will often pay more for it in the short run.

Hotels are changing the electronic locks back to key locks... because they are not hackable.

1 upvotes $0.00

alexgr

@alexgr·May 12, 2017, 9:36 PM UTC

Ransomware attacks are different than plain blackmails, because typically there is no wrongdoing from the victim. It's just that they run some software that encrypted their data and then can't access it until they get the decryption key (by paying the ransom). If you had a hospital or another type of private or public organization saying "Mr. Hacker, we can't pay you, we are prohibited by law to do so", then the hacker wouldn't even bother.

0 upvotes $0.00

alexgr

@alexgr·May 12, 2017, 9:37 PM UTC

instead of admitting they were the ones incompetent to handle the situation or be prepared for it.

Sometimes I'm like "seriously? No backup of your data?" Too much incompetence these days...

10 upvotes $0.06

MikeMcDonald

@worldclassplayer·May 12, 2017, 9:51 PM UTC

I find these "issues" and "problems" interesting from the perspective of being examples of game theory within our shared world system. Like perhaps in-structuring our incentives and rewards in society differently: we would support the best structures and support. I mean: we have a world of war through competition and exploitation and at the same time we are coerced with exstensive amounts of law and regulation to 'protect' individuality...and make us feel safe. Yet: if we changed the way our governance structures were incentivized this could change everything.

For example:

In the crypto-sphere...lets take bitcoin...or any coin for that matter....the network is always exposed to attack...and its because of this constant exposure that the strength and security exists. If a hacker gets into the network...lets take ethereum for example - the hacker was rewarded for finding a weakness/vulnerability/compromise in the netowork security. Yes, some loss occurs...but is balanced effectively by the overall gain in network awareness and upgrade in strength and development.

Imagine in our every day world...if people were rewarded for finding...and identifying problems in the way structures for systems exist. This would be very cool....anybody and everybody would be encouraged to make sure everything is always great...and to look and account for the removal of weakness. Making our world about turning problems into solutions.

I mean, when we think BIG about this...it's world changing in a way that is win/win

which is totally awesome.

and,

Steemit.

We are all participating in a global experiment that has massive disruptive potential in changing the way we transact and exchange with one another. Which is so cool. It's like inadvertently whether the majority of people realize it or not...life goes on...and life lives to the best of it's abilities always and will always rise from the ashes of suppression and oppression and come back stronger and better than ever.

3 upvotes $0.03