Dive Brief:
- The No More Ransom initiative just added 30 new members and 32 new decryption tools for various ransomware variants, according to multiple reports. No More Ransom provides free keys to help individuals and companies unlock files encrypted by ransomware.
- New additions to the group include cybersecurity firms Bitdefender, Check Point, Emsisoft and Trend Micro, according to TechCrunch. Additional companies, organizations and industry associations have also joined the effort as supporting partners.
- The group was launched by Europol, the Dutch National Police, Intel Security and Kaspersky Lab last summer. Since its launch, No More Ransom representatives said they’ve helped about 6,000 people affected by ransomware.
Dive Insight:
Ransomware has boomed in 2016. A recent report, sponsored by Malwarebytes and conducted by Osterman Research found nearly 50% of organizations globally suffered a ransomware attack in the last 12 months.
Despite warnings, businesses still appear to be giving in. Globally, nearly 40% of ransomware victims paid the ransom, according to Malwarebytes.
But groups like No More Ransom are fighting back. Rather than trying to prevent such attacks, No More Ransom simply gives victims a free way to get their data back without paying the ransom, thereby preventing cyber criminals from getting what they’re after.
