This article appeared in Cybersecurity Law & Strategy, an ALM publication for privacy and security professionals, Chief Information Security Officers, Chief Information Officers, Chief Technology Officers, Corporate Counsel, Internet and Tech Practitioners, In-House Counsel. Visit the website to learn more.

Ransomware has come a long way since the 1989 “AIDS Trojan.” Distributed by diskette, it encrypted the file names and directories of its victims. Ransom demands have also come a long way. The AIDS Trojan attack demanded $189 for the decryption key. In 2019 ransomware demands topped $12M.