Ransomware: a digital pandemic

Coronavirus has converged with another ‘viral’ problem

Over the last month, Covid-19 has dominated news cycles and forced us to dramatically alter our lives, but one slightly less-documented area the virus has affected is cybercrime

You discover a website offering a useful app: a ‘coronavirus tracker’ featuring an interactive map of the pandemic in your neighbourhood.

You click on the link, install the product, and a disturbing message appears on the screen: “YOUR PHONE IS ENCRYPTED. YOU HAVE 48 HOURS TO PAY $100 IN BITCOIN OR EVERYTHING WILL BE ERASED.” The virus infecting your phone is fittingly named CovidLock.

With tech it’s remarkable, but rarely surprising, how quickly and thoroughly ...