Ransomware attacks surge, but governments are too conflicted to fix it

While ransomware attacks are multiplying rapidly for private corporations, don’t expect our cybersecurity agencies to do much other than warn about them. In fact, they remain a core part of the problem of what will become a key element of 21st century life — the vulnerability of even the largest corporations to being locked out of their own data and systems.

By one count, ransomware attacks have increased 62% globally since 2019, and more than 150% in North America. That skewing reflects the fact that several major ransomware groups operate with relative impunity from Russia, on the proviso that they never attack Russian institutions.

This week a major US fuel pipeline was shut down by Russian ransomware group DarkSide, leading to Colonial Pipeline paying around US$5 million to the hackers.