Skip to main content

California poised to add ransomware law that carries sentence of up to four years

california ransomware law jailed
Image used with permission by copyright holder
A bill that would classify ransomware as extortion has made its way through California’s legislature, paving the way for potential jail sentences of between two and four years for offenders.

The bill, SB 1137, was authored by Sen. Robert Hertzberg. Last week, the bill passed the state assembly with a couple of amendments, and headed to the desk of Gov. Jerry Brown, along with a number of other bills, to be signed into law.

Cybercrime was previously covered in California by older laws but this newer bill classifies ransomware as extortion because it is specifically used to make money off victims. Ransomware encrypts a person’s device and holds it hostage until a ransom has been paid.

By classifying this particular cybercrime tactic as extortion, it allows prosecutors to call for jail terms of between two and four years. The bill also defines “triggering a system malfunction” or “password lockout” as felonies.

Hertzberg described ransomware as “electronic stickup,” and said the existing law needed greater clarity. “We need to make clear that intentionally using ransomware is a very serious crime that will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted, just like any stickup. That’s what this legislation does,” he said.

TechNet, a trade organization whose members include Microsoft, Cisco, and Apple, along with Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey, co-sponsored the bill.

“These criminals are turning ransomware into a sure way to cash in on just about any network intrusion, and we must send the signal that this criminal activity is punishable in a way that will deter this type of activity,” said Andrea Deveau, executive director of TechNet.

California has had a few notable run-ins with ransomware. In February, a Los Angeles hospital paid $17,000 to pay off its ransom and regain access to its files.

Only one organization is known opposed the bill, according to StateScoop. Legal Services for Prisoners with Children said the bill will only make jail sentences longer and will not add any further protections to victims of ransomware.

Jonathan Keane
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Jonathan is a freelance technology journalist living in Dublin, Ireland. He's previously written for publications and sites…
Why you should buy a MacBook Pro instead of a MacBook Air
The 14-inch MacBook Pro on a window sill.

There are plenty of reasons to buy a MacBook Air instead of a MacBook Pro. If you want a MacBook on a budget, you don't necessarily need the goodies that come with upgrading to the MacBook Pro.

That being said, I'm going to argue for spending a little more. In my experience, the MacBook Pro offers several distinct advantages that help justify a higher price, especially with the introduction of the more affordable MacBook Pro 14 with the base M3. If you can stretch your budget a bit, here's why I think you should buy a MacBook Pro instead of a MacBook Air.
Setting the stage: pricing

Read more
Windows 11 vs. Windows 10: finally time to upgrade?
The screen of the Surface Pro 9.

Windows 11 is the newest version of Windows, and it's one of the best Windows versions released. At launch, the operating system was very similar to Windows 10, but it has morphed a lot over the past several years. Now, Windows 11 has several key differences compared to Windows 10.

If you've been holding out on upgrading, we have everything you need to know about Windows 11 and how it's different than Windows 10 in this article. We'll detail the differences, as well as show you the areas where Windows 11 is growing faster than Windows 10.
Windows 11 vs. Windows 10: what's new

Read more
Usually $299, this HP Chromebook is discounted to $149 today
HP Chromebook 14b sits on a desk.

If the laptop deals that you come across are too expensive because all you need is a basic device, then you may want to check out Chromebook deals. Here's an affordable offer that may catch your attention -- the HP Chromebook 14a for only $149, following a $150 discount on its original price of $299. That's insanely cheap, and we don't think that price will hold for a long time. If you're interested in taking advantage of this bargain, it's highly recommended that you proceed with the purchase immediately because it may be gone as soon as tomorrow.

Why you should buy the HP Chromebook 14a
A Chromebook is a laptop that's powered by Google's Chrome OS, which is a web-based operating system that allows devices to run fast and smooth despite cheap components. For example, the HP Chromebook 14a is only equipped with the Intel Celeron N4120 processor, Intel UHD Graphics 600, and 4GB of RAM, but it's good enough for the basic tasks that you'll need to complete for work or school such as typing documents, doing online research, and making presentations. The HP Chromebook 14a doesn't have much built-in storage as it only comes with a 64GB eMMC, but you'll have all the space that you need for your files on Google Drive.

Read more