No More Ransom helped ransomware victims to save almost €1B

The No More Ransom initiative celebrates its fifth anniversary, over 6 million victims of ransomware attacks recover their files for free saving almost €1 billion in payments.

No More Ransom is celebrating its 5th anniversary, the initiative allowed more than 6 million ransomware victims to recover their files for free saving roughly $1 billion in ransom payments.

The “No More Ransom” website is an initiative launched in 2016 by the National High Tech Crime Unit of the Netherlands’ police, Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre, Kaspersky and McAfee to help victims of ransomware retrieve their encrypted data without having to pay the criminals.

Currently, over 170 partners contribute to the project, they provided hundreds of free tools to recover files encrypted by 151 ransomware families.

“A new No More Ransom website has been launched to mark the project’s fifth year. Modern and more user-friendly, the new home of the Crypto Sheriff offers updated information on ransomware, as well as advice on how to prevent a ransomware infection.” reads the post published by the EUROPOL. “The partnership between law enforcement and private industry has contributed to the success of No More Ransom by helping victims and reducing criminal profits.”

The No More Ransom website is available in 37 languages, top 5 languages are English (38%), followed by Korean (8%), Chinese (6%), Portuguese (5%), and Spanish (4%).

Below the list of recommendations provided by the initiative to individuals and companies of all sizes:

• Regularly back up data stored on your electronic devices.
• Watch your clicks – do you know where a link will take you?
• Beware of attachments in emails.
• Ensure that your security software and operating system are up to date.
• If you become a victim, do not pay! Report the crime and check No More Ransom for decryption tools.

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Pierluigi Paganini
International Editor-in-Chief
Cyber Defense Magazine