You're saving lives now but endangering future lives.
If no one paid the ransom, ransomware wouldn't exist. the more people who pay the ransom, the more incentive attackers have to create ransomware.
If no one paid the ransom, ransomware wouldn't exist. the more people who pay the ransom, the more incentive attackers have to create ransomware.
Even if we made it illegal, it doesn't mean people wouldn't pay them. It would just punish victims further.
I guess you didn't read the second half of my comment where I suggest that will likely be idealistic and unreleastic.
Enough companies will still pay quietly to keep it going. I'd be shocked if they didn't.
If you're attacking a public institution like a hospital and demanding many thousands of dollars... it's pretty hard to hide a payment like that. So if you outlawed paying such ransoms, those types of ransoms would stop.
Individuals would still be attacked and asked to pay a few hundred dollars, but such instances rarely put lives at stake.
Governor Rick Scott of Florida stole a Billion dollars from Medicaid before he got caught.
Even if we made it illegal, it doesn't mean people wouldn't pay them.