Cybersecurity

How Cryptocurrency Turbocharged the Cybercrime Racket

Photographer: Andrey Rudakov/Bloomberg
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Cyberattacks using ransomware are increasing in frequency, and ransom payments made to the hackers are swelling as well. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, along with the exchanges where they can be traded anonymously, have emerged as key tools for the cyber extortionists. The vast sums being paid by corporations to regain control of their computers would have been near-impossible to move in any other legitimate currency market, experts say.