US cities pay more than a million dollars after attacks with hostage software

Two cities in the US state of Florida paid a total of more than a $ 1 million to criminals after infecting their computers with hostage software. As a result, the cities could no longer access their files until they paid the intruders. The cities of Lake City and Riviera Beach paid the criminals in bitcoins.

The files of civil servants were encrypted and employees of the emergency center could not register calls if the US emergency number 911 was called. Because the computers at American governments are outdated and not provided with the latest updates, these authorities are more easily susceptible to hostage software from cyber criminals.

Infections with hostage software are more common and not just in America. Thousands of Dutch people have suffered from it. At least fifteen hospitals have also been targeted in recent years.