Ransomware , a special version of trojan that encrypts files , has become a new and tremendously growing type of cybercrime . The 2016 Ransomware Report released by 360 Security Center lately presents that : – 4.9 million computers were attacked in China – 56,000 ransomware infections worldwide only in March 2016 – $ 1 billion dollar source of income for cyber criminals estimated by FBI – Almost half of organizations have been hit with ransomware In January 2016 , three Indian banks ’ and a pharmaceutical company ’ s computer systems were infected Attack.Ransom by ransomware . The attacker asked for Attack.Ransom 1 bitcoin ( about $ 905 ) for each infected computer , and then used unprotected desktop interface to infect other connected computers from remote . These corps lost several million dollars due to the huge number of infected computers . February 5th 2016 , Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center paid Attack.Ransom a $ 17,000 ransom Attack.Ransom in bitcoin to a hacker who seized control of the hospital ’ s computer systems and would give back access only when the money was paid Attack.Ransom . Two hospitals in Ottawa and in Ontario were attacked by ransomware later on . In February 2016 , several schools ’ computer systems were attacked by ransomware . The hacker took control of the intranet and servers , and asked for Attack.Ransom 20 bitcoin . These school ended up paying Attack.Ransom the anonymous hacker $ 8,500 to get their IT systems back . In the mid-February , a new ransomware “ Locky ” started to spread out via email . 7 out of 10 malicious email attachments delivered Locky in Q2 2016 . Once users activated the file attached in the email , their files were encrypted and had to pay Attack.Ransom the distributor a certain ransom Attack.Ransom to decrypt these files . May 2016 , a series of ransomware attacks on the House of Representatives have led US congress to ban using Yahoo Mail and Google hosted-apps , and warned their members about being caution of Internet security . In October , 2016 , 277 ransomware attacks Attack.Ransom were reported to Government Computer Emergency Response Team in Hong Kong , China . Most of the malware were hidden in email attachments and disguised as Attack.Phishing bills or receipts to trick Attack.Phishing users to click . The victims included the Marine Department of Hong Kong and Deloitte , one of the biggest accounting firms in the world . In November 2016 , other than emails , Locky began to transmit through social networks such as Facebook , LinkedIn with images contained malicious application . The file could be automatically downloaded while users were browsing , and installed once users clicked to check . November 2016 , San Francisco public transportation system Muni was hacked and requested for Attack.Ransom a $ 73,000 ransom Attack.Ransom in bitcoin to get back encrypted data . SFMTA ( The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Authority ) refused to pay Attack.Ransom the ransom Attack.Ransom and shut down the fair system . We can see that ransomeware is terrifying and collecting money illegally around the world . However , it ’ s almost impossible to decrypt the infected files by yourself , even for people with high information technology skills .

Services are being restored to the St. Louis Public Library computer system after a ransomware attack Attack.Ransom last Thursday impacted access to machines and data at all 17 branches . Library management refused to pay Attack.Ransom the $ 35,000 demanded as ransom Attack.Ransom , and IT staff wiped affected servers and restored them from available backups . On Friday , the library was able to restart its circulation workflow , and patrons were able to check out books at all locations . By Saturday , checkout and returns systems were at 100 percent availability , and now only the library ’ s reserve system remains to be restored . That work began on Monday and is expected to be up and running shortly . Executive director Waller McGuire said the library immediately reached out to the FBI for help with the investigation , and it ’ s not clear where the infection began , nor how it spread throughout the library network . “ The real victims of this criminal attack are the Library ’ s patrons . SLPL has worked hard to open a secure but widely available digital world to the people of St. Louis , and I am sorry it was interrupted , ” McGuire said in a letter to library patrons published on Monday . “ An attempt to hold information and access to the world for ransom Attack.Ransom is deeply frightening and offensive to any public library , and we will make every effort to keep that world available to our patrons ” . McGuire also said that patrons ’ personal and financial information is not stored on its servers , and none of that data was impacted by the attack . Louis Public Library has been working with the FBI to identify how criminals broke into our system and correct the problem , ” McGuire said . “ I apologize to patrons for any inconvenience this incident has caused : on most days thousands of St. Louis Public Library patrons check out materials and use computers for many purposes ” . A request for additional comment from McGuire was not returned in time for publication . It ’ s unknown which ransomware family was used to attack the library , nor how the infection started . McGuire said in his letter to patrons that criminals broke into the library network and installed malware . This runs contrary to most ransomware infections where the malware is spread in spam or phishing emails enticing the victim to open a malicious email attachment or click on a link in the message that downloads the malware . The St. Louis library is the latest in a growing list of high-profile businesses and public services falling victim to ransomware . Less than a year has passed since the Hollywood Presbyterian attack Attack.Ransom , in which a $ 17,000 ransom was paid Attack.Ransom , and the Kentucky Methodist Hospital attack Attack.Ransom , in which officials reportedly refused to pay Attack.Ransom . The University of Calgary also fell victim as have other colleges , universities , local law enforcement and government agencies , and entertainment organizations .

Services are being restored to the St. Louis Public Library computer system after a ransomware attack Attack.Ransom last Thursday impacted access to machines and data at all 17 branches . Library management refused to pay Attack.Ransom the $ 35,000 demanded as ransom Attack.Ransom , and IT staff wiped affected servers and restored them from available backups . On Friday , the library was able to restart its circulation workflow , and patrons were able to check out books at all locations . By Saturday , checkout and returns systems were at 100 percent availability , and now only the library ’ s reserve system remains to be restored . That work began on Monday and is expected to be up and running shortly . Executive director Waller McGuire said the library immediately reached out to the FBI for help with the investigation , and it ’ s not clear where the infection began , nor how it spread throughout the library network . “ The real victims of this criminal attack are the Library ’ s patrons . SLPL has worked hard to open a secure but widely available digital world to the people of St. Louis , and I am sorry it was interrupted , ” McGuire said in a letter to library patrons published on Monday . “ An attempt to hold information and access to the world for ransom Attack.Ransom is deeply frightening and offensive to any public library , and we will make every effort to keep that world available to our patrons ” . McGuire also said that patrons ’ personal and financial information is not stored on its servers , and none of that data was impacted by the attack . Louis Public Library has been working with the FBI to identify how criminals broke into our system and correct the problem , ” McGuire said . “ I apologize to patrons for any inconvenience this incident has caused : on most days thousands of St. Louis Public Library patrons check out materials and use computers for many purposes ” . A request for additional comment from McGuire was not returned in time for publication . It ’ s unknown which ransomware family was used to attack the library , nor how the infection started . McGuire said in his letter to patrons that criminals broke into the library network and installed malware . This runs contrary to most ransomware infections where the malware is spread in spam or phishing emails enticing the victim to open a malicious email attachment or click on a link in the message that downloads the malware . The St. Louis library is the latest in a growing list of high-profile businesses and public services falling victim to ransomware . Less than a year has passed since the Hollywood Presbyterian attack Attack.Ransom , in which a $ 17,000 ransom was paid Attack.Ransom , and the Kentucky Methodist Hospital attack Attack.Ransom , in which officials reportedly refused to pay Attack.Ransom . The University of Calgary also fell victim as have other colleges , universities , local law enforcement and government agencies , and entertainment organizations .