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University of Calgary pays $20,000 to ransomware hackers
Source: BBC
University pays $20,000 to ransomware hackers
8 June 2016 Technology
A Canadian university has paid hackers to restore access to data they had turned into the digital equivalent of gibberish.
The University of Calgary transferred 20,000 Canadian dollars-worth of bitcoins ($15,780; £10,840) after it was unable to unwind damage caused by a type of attack known as ransomware.
The malware caused emails and other files to become encrypted.
One expert warned that the payout would encourage further blackmail attempts.
The move comes the same week Intel warned that ransomware infections were spreading at "an alarming rate".
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
8 June 2016 Technology
A Canadian university has paid hackers to restore access to data they had turned into the digital equivalent of gibberish.
The University of Calgary transferred 20,000 Canadian dollars-worth of bitcoins ($15,780; £10,840) after it was unable to unwind damage caused by a type of attack known as ransomware.
The malware caused emails and other files to become encrypted.
One expert warned that the payout would encourage further blackmail attempts.
The move comes the same week Intel warned that ransomware infections were spreading at "an alarming rate".
[font size=1]-snip-[/font]
Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-36478650
