Self-promoting cybersecurity firms

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The Big Story
Mon. May 24, 2021

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The Colonial Pipeline Ransomware Hackers Had a Secret Weapon: Self-Promoting Cybersecurity Firms <[link removed]> Five months before DarkSide attacked the Colonial pipeline, two researchers discovered a way to rescue its ransomware victims. Then an antivirus company’s announcement alerted the hackers. by Renee Dudley and Daniel Golden

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More From This Investigation

Like Voldemort, Ransomware Is Too Scary to Be Named <[link removed]> Wary of alarming investors, companies victimized by ransomware attacks often tell the SEC that “malware” or a “security incident” disrupted their operations. by Renee Dudley <[link removed]>

The Ransomware Superhero of Normal, Illinois <[link removed]> Thanks to Michael Gillespie, an obscure programmer at a Nerds on Call repair store, hundreds of thousands of ransomware victims have recovered their files for free. by Renee Dudley <[link removed]>

The New Target That Enables Ransomware Hackers to Paralyze Dozens of Towns and Businesses at Once <[link removed]> Cybercriminals are zeroing in on the managed service providers that handle computer systems for local governments and medical clinics. by Renee Dudley <[link removed]>

The Extortion Economy: How Insurance Companies Are Fueling a Rise in Ransomware Attacks <[link removed]> Even when public agencies and companies hit by ransomware could recover their files on their own, insurers prefer to pay the ransom. Why? The attacks are good for business. by Renee Dudley <[link removed]>

The Trade Secret: Firms That Promised High-Tech Ransomware Solutions Almost Always Just Pay the Hackers <[link removed]> As ransomware attacks crippled businesses and law enforcement agencies, two U.S. data recovery firms claimed to offer an ethical way out. Instead, they typically paid the ransom and charged victims extra. by Renee Dudley and Jeff Kao <[link removed]>

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