Guest Post: Ransomware Threat Escalates Worldwide (from @pentesttraining)

The following is a guest post submitted to Caffeine Security. The owner of Caffeine Security is not responsible for its content.

Consumers face a growing malware threat that echoes the fear and helplessness of a kidnapping. The latest malware ploy, called ransomware, literally holds a user’s data hostage. In return for the promise of unlocking the computer or cell phone, digital kidnappers demand money or potentially lucrative information. Experts estimate that ransomware netted criminals over $5 million in 2012 alone.