{"id":6034,"date":"2016-05-24T06:52:17","date_gmt":"2016-05-24T10:52:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.co.in\/blog\/?p=6034"},"modified":"2020-02-26T20:29:04","modified_gmt":"2020-02-26T14:59:04","slug":"how-educated-are-we-on-ransomware","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.co.in\/blog\/how-educated-are-we-on-ransomware\/6034\/","title":{"rendered":"How educated are we on ransomware?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Unlike previous malware trends that have varying purposes, ransomware\u2019s is quite simple: Get Money. With a goal like that spurring on malicious developers, it\u2019s no wonder ransomware\u2019s star is on the rise.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not entirely sure what ransomware is, you\u2019re not alone \u2014 and that\u2019s unfortunate. With ransomware a growing concern, and high-profile attacks on critical organizations including hospitals<\/a>, schools<\/a>, and police departments<\/a>, Kaspersky Lab recently commissioned research<\/a> firm Opinion Matters to survey more than 5,000 consumers in the United States and Canada to gauge the overall awareness of and concern about ransomware.<\/p>\n

The results indicate that consumers are unconcerned about ransomware \u2014 perhaps because they are unaware of ransomware\u2019s reach and effects.<\/p>\n

Why ransomware matters<\/h3>\n

Briefly, ransomware is a type of malware. Its twist is using encryption to hold victims\u2019 files \u2014 or access to their computers or mobile devices \u2014 hostage and demanding money in exchange for their safe return.<\/p>\n

Ransomware isn\u2019t new, but ransomware infections have been growing at an alarming rate recently. For example, in the first quarter of 2016, Kaspersky Lab\u2019s software blocked crypto-ransomware attacks on 34,900 devices and detected more than 2,800 mobile ransomware Trojans.<\/p>\n

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Q1 @kaspersky<\/a> Lab #mobile<\/a> products detected 2,896 mobile #ransomware<\/a> Trojans #KLreport<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/xArxZwj0Ow<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/ClCgDxyEg4<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Kaspersky (@kaspersky) May 6, 2016<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n