• Press Releases
    • Submit a press release
    • Read All
  • Contact us
Advertise
Bitcoinist.com
No Result
View All Result
  • Bitcoin
    • News
    • Price
    • Businesses
    • Acceptance
    • Technology
    • Investment
    • Regulation
    • Reviews
    • All Bitcoin News
  • Altcoins
    • News
    • Price
    • Ethereum
    • Ripple
    • Litecoin
    • EOS
    • NAGA
    • All Altcoin News
  • Tech
    • Blockchain
    • Security
    • FinTech
    • Price
      • Bitcoin Price
      • Ethereum Price
      • Binance Coin Price
      • Litecoin Price
  • Industry
    • Industry News
    • Press Releases
  • How to
    • Buy gift cards/mobile Top Ups with Cryptos
    • What Is Bitcoin?
    • Best Bitcoin Wallet
    • Bitcoin vs Ethereum
    • Why Use Blockchain Technology?
    • Bitcoin Cash ABC vs. Bitcoin Cash SV
    • How to Buy Cryptocurrency
    • How to do Crypto Gambling
      • Crypto Casinos
        • Ethereum Casinos
        • Solana Casinos
        • LiteCoin Casinos
        • DogeCoin Casinos
        • Live Crypto Casinos
        • New Casinos
        • Instant Withdrawal Casinos
        • Cash App Casinos
        • No KYC Casinos
        • VPN Casinos
        • Offshore Casinos
          • Crypto Casinos IT
          • Crypto Casinos ES
            • All Guides
          • Crypto Casinos JP
          • Crypto Casinos SG
          • Crypto Casinos MY
          • Crypto Casinos KR
          • No GAMSTOP Casinos in UK
          • No Cruks Casinos NL
      • Crypto Betting
        • No ID sportsbooks
    • Play Crypto Games
      • Crypto Poker
      • Crypto Slots
      • Crypto Blackjack
      • Crypto Crash Gambling
        • Aviator Sites
      • Plinko
    • Bitcoin Mining
    • Best Bitcoin Brokers
    • Best Bitcoin Forex Brokers
    • How To Earn Bitcoin
    • What is Facebook Libra?
    • Ripple and XRP: The Complete Guide
  • Events
  • Play Games
Breaking News: BREAKING: Saylor's Strategy Misses S&P 500 Inclusion, Robinhood Takes Spotlight
  • Bitcoin
    • News
    • Price
    • Businesses
    • Acceptance
    • Technology
    • Investment
    • Regulation
    • Reviews
    • All Bitcoin News
  • Altcoins
    • News
    • Price
    • Ethereum
    • Ripple
    • Litecoin
    • EOS
    • NAGA
    • All Altcoin News
  • Tech
    • Blockchain
    • Security
    • FinTech
    • Price
      • Bitcoin Price
      • Ethereum Price
      • Binance Coin Price
      • Litecoin Price
  • Industry
    • Industry News
    • Press Releases
  • How to
    • Buy gift cards/mobile Top Ups with Cryptos
    • What Is Bitcoin?
    • Best Bitcoin Wallet
    • Bitcoin vs Ethereum
    • Why Use Blockchain Technology?
    • Bitcoin Cash ABC vs. Bitcoin Cash SV
    • How to Buy Cryptocurrency
    • How to do Crypto Gambling
      • Crypto Casinos
        • Ethereum Casinos
        • Solana Casinos
        • LiteCoin Casinos
        • DogeCoin Casinos
        • Live Crypto Casinos
        • New Casinos
        • Instant Withdrawal Casinos
        • Cash App Casinos
        • No KYC Casinos
        • VPN Casinos
        • Offshore Casinos
          • Crypto Casinos IT
          • Crypto Casinos ES
            • All Guides
          • Crypto Casinos JP
          • Crypto Casinos SG
          • Crypto Casinos MY
          • Crypto Casinos KR
          • No GAMSTOP Casinos in UK
          • No Cruks Casinos NL
      • Crypto Betting
        • No ID sportsbooks
    • Play Crypto Games
      • Crypto Poker
      • Crypto Slots
      • Crypto Blackjack
      • Crypto Crash Gambling
        • Aviator Sites
      • Plinko
    • Bitcoin Mining
    • Best Bitcoin Brokers
    • Best Bitcoin Forex Brokers
    • How To Earn Bitcoin
    • What is Facebook Libra?
    • Ripple and XRP: The Complete Guide
  • Events
  • Play Games
Bitcoinist.com
No Result
View All Result
Breaking News: BREAKING: Saylor's Strategy Misses S&P 500 Inclusion, Robinhood Takes Spotlight
FBI Reports Crypto Ransomware Totalled $144M Since 2013

FBI Report: Bitcoin Ransom Payments Total $144M

Christine Vasileva
by Christine Vasileva
5 years ago
·
Posted in Bitcoin, News, News teaser
Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

Ransomware attacks and similar extortion schemes took in an estimated $144 million in the course of 7 years. FBI estimates show most of the ransoms were paid in Bitcoin (BTC) and went straight to mixers or exchanges.


Most Ransomware Required Payment in Bitcoin

Attacks that lock files and require a ransom to decrypt them have lined up among the biggest cyber threats in the past few years. Ransomware has locked down airports and hospitals, entering older, vulnerable machines. Most ransomware versions share a message requiring a bitcoin payment to unlock all files. Despite advice not to pay, it turns out multiple targets actually sent in BTC to the ransomware extortionists.

FBI supervisory special agent, Joel DeCapua, shared the US agency’s discoveries during the RSA Conference 2020. He explained that any BTC or other coins acquired went immediately to coin mixers, or were sold on exchanges. But there is also a curious reason why so much was paid in ransoms – the companies affected may make an insurance claim.

No one wants to pay the ransom actors. I think a lot of companies get insurance now. They say, ‘Well, if we are hit by ransomware, we are just going to defer to what our insurance company wants to do… They can say it wasn’t their choice to pay the ransom, because like I said, no one wants to pay the ransom. So I think that because ransom payments are insurable, I think it has caused more ransoms to be paid.

Ransomware attacks have been linked to both Russian and North Korean hackers. The attack message usually contains a bitcoin address and instructions on how to acquire and send coins. However, paying the ransom on some occasions has left the files locked, hence the advice to avoid paying.

Ransomware Demands Grew in 2019

Even now, a variation of bitcoin extortion is still making the rounds, marking a payment into one of the known wallets of a sextortion scheme.

🚔 A payment of 0.168 BTC (1,557 USD) has been made to a known Sextortion Scam!

Details: https://t.co/XwhahfgCf0
Tx: https://t.co/30SnXM1y1H

— Whale Alert (@whale_alert) February 25, 2020

The $144 million paid in ransoms is rather small and spread out in comparison to exchange hacks, and general crypto scams. Those accounted for billions in the past few years. Ransoms in BTC, however, spread a negative message about crypto coins as a tool for illegal activities.

Ransomware demands grew significantly during 2019, based on data from a periodic Kaspersky cybersecurity report. Ransomware spreads on darknet sites, offering new variations of locking programs and even affiliate programs for spreading the files.

What do you think about the ransomware threat? Share your thoughts in the comments section below!


Images via Shutterstock, Twitter @Whale_Alert 

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.
ShareTweetShareShare

Sign Up for Our Newsletter!

For updates and exclusive offers enter your email.

I consent to my submitted data being collected and stored.
Christine Vasileva

Christine Vasileva

Follow

Christine Vasileva is a financial news and business writer, tracking the latest developments in fintech and the effect of blockchain and crypto-assets on global business and finance.

Full Profile

Related Posts

Bitcoin

Analyst Says All Bitcoin Price Uptrend Are Duds Unless This Happens

9 hours ago
Bitcoin Buying Frenzy Ahead As Eric Trump Predicts ‘Floodgates Are Opening’

Bitcoin Buying Frenzy Ahead As Eric Trump Predicts ‘Floodgates Are Opening’

1 day ago
Bitcoin

Corporate Bitcoin Allocation Climbs As Companies Invest 22% Of Profits: Study

2 days ago
Bitcoin

Bitcoin Payments Now Accepted By Top UAE Developer For Real Estate

2 days ago
cours-or-nouveau-record-chute-btc

Record de l’or et chute du Bitcoin : que se passe-t-il ?

4 days ago
Metaplanet

Metaplanet Pushes Bitcoin Holdings Over $2 Billion With New Purchase

4 days ago
Please login to join discussion

Premium Sponsors

Press Releases

  • Cloud Mining

    From Holding to Profit: How XRP Earns $27,000 Daily from...

    49 minutes ago
  • minwer

    XRP Holders Can Earn $10,000 a Day Through COME...

    21 hours ago
  • BTC prices hit a two-week high, and holders flocked to GMO...

    21 hours ago
  • miner

    Cardano (ADA) Market Outlook: Long-term Potential Passive...

    22 hours ago
  • etnminer

    How to Play to Earn Crypto in 2025: Discover 6 Most...

    1 day ago

Bitcoin news portal providing breaking news, guides, price analysis about decentralized digital money & blockchain technology.

Bitcoin

  • News
  • Price
  • Businesses
  • Acceptance
  • Technology
  • Investment
  • Regulation
  • Reviews

Altcoins

  • News
  • Price
  • Ethereum
  • Ripple
  • Litecoin
  • EOS

Categories

  • Blockchain
  • Security
  • FinTech
  • Technology
  • Trending
  • Breaking News
  • Press Releases
  • How to

About Us

  • Advertise
  • Contact us
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy
© 2025 Bitcoinist.com. All Rights Reserved.
  • Bitcoin
    • News
    • Price
    • Businesses
    • Acceptance
    • Technology
    • Investment
    • Regulation
    • Reviews
    • All Bitcoin News
  • Altcoins
    • News
    • Price
    • Ethereum
    • Ripple
    • Litecoin
    • EOS
    • NAGA
    • All Altcoin News
  • Tech
    • Blockchain
    • Security
    • FinTech
    • Price
      • Bitcoin Price
      • Ethereum Price
      • Binance Coin Price
      • Litecoin Price
  • Industry
    • Industry News
    • Press Releases
  • How to
    • Buy gift cards/mobile Top Ups with Cryptos
    • What Is Bitcoin?
    • Best Bitcoin Wallet
    • Bitcoin vs Ethereum
    • Why Use Blockchain Technology?
    • Bitcoin Cash ABC vs. Bitcoin Cash SV
    • How to Buy Cryptocurrency
    • How to do Crypto Gambling
      • Crypto Casinos
      • Crypto Betting
    • Play Crypto Games
      • Crypto Poker
      • Crypto Slots
      • Crypto Blackjack
      • Crypto Crash Gambling
      • Plinko
    • Bitcoin Mining
    • Best Bitcoin Brokers
    • Best Bitcoin Forex Brokers
    • How To Earn Bitcoin
    • What is Facebook Libra?
    • Ripple and XRP: The Complete Guide
  • Events
  • Play Games
Advertise

© 2025 Bitcoinist. All Rights Reserved.

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy Center or Cookie Policy.