Global ransomware fight will be an uphill battle

Significance

Cybercriminals used malware called WannaCry to lock users' files and then demand a ransom to allow them access. WannaCry is a high-profile incident in an exploding trend of the use of ransomware, which is one of the cheapest and easiest cybercrimes to execute.

Impacts

• Ransomware will continue to threaten computer systems, largely because of poor cyber security practices.
• A sophisticated online criminal market facilitates cybercrime innovation and specialisation.
• Difficulty in apprehending cybercriminals will allow cybercrime to continue to grow.
• The boundary between ransomware attacks for criminal gain and those for political sabotage could become blurred.