Reducing Ransomware Crime: Analysis of Victims’ Payment Decisions
Document Type
Article
Source of Publication
Computers and Security
Publication Date
8-1-2022
Abstract
In this paper, the decision-making processes of victims during ransomware attacks were analysed. Forty-one ransomware attacks using qualitative data collected from organisations and police officers from cybercrime units in the UK were examined. The hypothesis tested in this paper is that victims carefully analyse the situation before deciding whether to pay a ransom. This research confirms that victims often weigh the costs and benefits of interventions before making final decisions, and that their decisions are based on a range of reasons. As ransomware attacks become more prevalent globally, the findings should be highly relevant to those developing guidance and policies to prevent or minimise ransom payments.
DOI Link
ISSN
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Volume
119
Disciplines
Computer Sciences
Keywords
Cybercrime, Decision processes, Organisations, Ransom payments, Ransomware attacks
Scopus ID
Recommended Citation
Yuryna Connolly, Alena and Borrion, Hervé, "Reducing Ransomware Crime: Analysis of Victims’ Payment Decisions" (2022). All Works. 5170.
https://zuscholars.zu.ac.ae/works/5170
Indexed in Scopus
yes
Open Access
no