Ransomware is proliferating across the country, disabling computer systems and harming critical infrastructure — hospitals, city governments, schools, even an oil pipeline. The technology that enables ransomware may be new, but extortion and ransom are not. So why is this happening now? And can it be stopped? In this 5-part series from MIT Technology Review and ProPublica we look at the money, people and technology behind the explosion of ransomware that is delivering hundreds of millions of dollars to cybercriminals around the world. Hosted by Meg Marco.
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Ransomware is proliferating across the country, disabling computer systems and harming critical infrastructure — hospitals, city governments, schools, even an oil pipeline. The technology that enables ransomware may be new, but extortion and ransom are not. So why is this happening now? And can it be stopped? In this 5-part series from MIT Technology Review and ProPublica we look at the money, people and technology behind the explosion of ransomware that is delivering hundreds of millions of dollars to cybercriminals around the world. Hosted by Meg Marco.
The problem of ransomware has many causes but no clear solution. What's coming next? This is part five.
We Meet:
Fabian Wosar, CTO, Emsisoft
Jake Johnson, North Carolina State Representative
Abishur Prakash, Geopolitical Futurist
Paul Rosenberg, Mayor, Village of Rye Brook, New York
Kimberly W. LaGrue, CIO, City of New Orleans, Louisiana
Allan Liska, Principal Research Scientist, Recorded Future
Sounds From:
Video: Governor declares state of emergency after ransomware attack on Louisiana, Source: WWLTV, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pT1mAILZVVg
Video: City Hall set to open Monday following cyber attack, Source: WDSU News, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEDW3ETTDkg
Video: Cyber attack cripples New Orleans for days, Source: Fox News, https://video.foxnews.com/v/6116822204001#sp=show-clips
Video: City Hall adapting to life without computers after New Orleans cyberattack, Source: WWLTV, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwnwG63K-Jc
Video: New Orleans government targeted in cyberattack; no ransom demanded, Source: WWLTV, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5A0ANiQ3_Q
Credits:
This series is hosted by Meg Marco and produced by Emma Cillekens, Tate Ryan-Mosley, and Anthony Green. It’s inspired by reporting by Renee Dudley and Daniel Golden from ProPublica. We're edited by Bobbie Johnson, Michael Reilly, Mat Honan, and Robin Fields. Our mix engineer is Erick Gomez and theme music by Jacob Gorski. Art is from Lisa Larson-Walker and Eric Mongeon. Emma Cillekens is our voice coach. The executive producers of The Extortion Economy podcast are Meg Marco and Jennifer Strong.
The Extortion Economy
Ransomware is proliferating across the country, disabling computer systems and harming critical infrastructure — hospitals, city governments, schools, even an oil pipeline. The technology that enables ransomware may be new, but extortion and ransom are not. So why is this happening now? And can it be stopped? In this 5-part series from MIT Technology Review and ProPublica we look at the money, people and technology behind the explosion of ransomware that is delivering hundreds of millions of dollars to cybercriminals around the world. Hosted by Meg Marco.
