Dark screens : hackers and heroes in the shadowy world of ransomware / Anja Shortland.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Shortland, Anja, Author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Hackers.

Computer crimes--Investigation.

Computer crimes.

Ransomware (Computer software).

Extortion.

Ransom.

Computer security.

Genre:

Informational works.

Case studies.

Informational works

Physical Description:

x, 273 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

New York : PublicAffairs, 2026.

Summary:

"A riveting account of major ransomware attacks and their devastating consequences, revealing how exposed we really are-and how we can protect ourselves Imagine opening your computer only to find every document and every program locked. All you can see is a red screen with a countdown timer, urging you to pay a ransom within seventy-two hours or lose access forever. For more than a decade, hackers have been extorting billions of dollars from businesses, governments, and individuals with ever more sophisticated variations on this simple scheme. Dark Screens offers a ringside seat to the most notorious ransomware attacks of the twenty-first century. It sheds light on the inner workings of criminal gangs that target hospitals, public infrastructure, and vulnerable companies-as well as the individuals and organizations trying to stop them. It tracks how ransomware is becoming a weapon of cyberwar, as seen in the Russian NotPetya attack, and the worldwide WannaCry cyberattack by North Korea. Ransomware expert Anja Shortland shares these stories to sound the alarm about how vulnerable we are to cyberattacks and highlight best practices from cybersecurity and crisis management to law enforcement and public policy. Dark Screens shines a light on the fascinating underworld of superhackers whose activities have potentially catastrophic implications for us all"-- Provided by publisher.

Dark Screens by Anja Shortland examines major ransomware attacks of the 21st century, explaining how cybercriminal groups operate and the widespread impact of their attacks on businesses, governments, hospitals, and critical infrastructure. The book explores notable incidents such as the NotPetya cyberattack and the WannaCry ransomware attack, highlighting the growing role of ransomware in cyberwarfare. It also discusses strategies for prevention, crisis response, law enforcement, and public policy, emphasizing both the risks posed by ransomware and measures that can improve cybersecurity resilience.

Contents:

Introduction: the business of ransomware

Precursors and preconditions for ransomware. Phreaks and hackers: the magic of exploration ; The world's first ransomware attempt: the 1989 AIDS trojan ; Idealists versus mischief-makers: insecurity by design ; Operation flyhook: the risky business of cyber extortion ; Th missing puzzle pieces: innovations for safe and profitable ransomware

From proof of concept to pandemic. CryptoLocker: ransomware unleashed ; A masterpiece of criminality: ransomware-as-a-service ; The ransomware ecosystem: ransomware-settlement-as-a-service ; Ransomwar: automatic, rapid, indiscriminate, reckless ; No more ransoms?: a fractious alliance against ransomware ; Big game hunting: second- and third-generation ransomware

Pulling the plug on ransomware?. A matter of national security: proactive counter-ransomware policy ; In one fell swoop: the supply chain attack on Kaseya ; Conti "at war": with Costa Rica, and itself ; The LockBit takedown: undermining trust in the ransomware business

Conclusion: big money-minimal risk?: dialing down the ransomware threat.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 235-361) and index.

ISBN:

9781541705753

1541705750

OCLC:

1531082761

Publisher Number:

90104508629