A brand new survey highlights the persistent threat that ransomware continues to be in 2019. According to data gathered by Anomali and The Harris Poll, ransomware attacks 1 in 5 Americans. The survey was based on responses from more than 2,000 American citizens.
1 in 5 Americans Involved in Ransomware Attacks
“Until now, we haven’t known much about how every-day American adults feel about this modern crime wave. To understand better how they feel, we commissioned a survey conducted online by The Harris Poll in July of 2019 among more than 2,000 U.S. adults,” the researchers say.
One of the most important conclusions is that more Americans than suspected have dealt with ransomware. Survey results show that roughly 1 in 5 Americans, or about 21 percent, have been involved in a ransomware attack on a personal or work device, and in some cases on both. 46 percent of individuals who experienced an attack on a work device say that their companies went along with criminals’ demands and paid the ransom.
Related: 2.8 Million Encrypted Malware Attacks in First Half of 2019
The shared belief among survey participants is that the government should be more prepared to face cybercrime. The surprising part is that most participants said they may be willing to contribute to the cause, the researchers said. More specifically, 61 percent “would support a federal income tax increase to help fund government efforts to defend against cyberattacks”.
Other intriguing findings include that 34 percent of survey participants believe it is in some cases OK for government organizations to pay the ransom while 7 percent believe payment is always a good idea.
An Anomali report from October 2018 revealed Dark Web communications that offered “a large quantity of voter databases for sale” gathered from American citizens. Personally identifiable information and voting history was included in those databases.
At least 19 states appeared to be affected, and 23 million records for three of the 19 states. The data that was being offered for sale came from updated statewide voter lists, and included millions of full addresses, phone numbers, and names. The seller received weekly updates of voter registration data across the United States, and the data was received via contacts within the state government, Anomali reported.
Milena Dimitrova
An inspired writer and content manager who has been with SensorsTechForum since the project started. A professional with 10+ years of experience in creating engaging content. Focused on user privacy and malware development, she strongly believes in a world where cybersecurity plays a central role. If common sense makes no sense, she will be there to take notes. Those notes may later turn into articles! Follow Milena @Milenyim
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