Skip to main content

TeslaCrypt ransomware grows as victims pay up

Ransomware continues to be a lucrative method for cyber criminals looking to extort money from vulnerable users. According to a new report from FireEye, the latest strain of ransomware TeslaCrypt (also known as Alpha Crypt) has yielded $76,522 for its authors since February, from 163 victims.

Other examples of ransomware like Cryptolocker and TorLocker have extorted huge sums of money from users across the globe. TeslaCrypt’s performance so far shows us that ransomware is still performing well despite growing awareness around the technique.

Recommended Videos

FireEye was able to track payments made to cybercriminals between February and April, as most payments are made in Bitcoin, though in some cases they accept PayPal My Cash cards. Ransoms ranged from $150 to as high as $1,000.

The researchers note that authors of the ransomware had little bias in who they targeted, which included students in Iran and Spain, who were afraid of losing their valuable college assignments and coughed up the ransom. TeslaCrypt also infected a non-profit that works towards a cure for blood cancer.

FireEye pointed out that many victims, like small businesses, were simply unable to pay and gave up, and as a result lost their data.

The security firm recovered several of the notices that TeslaCrypt’s creators were using when they encrypted someone’s files and has even published some of the messages between victim and perpetrator.

“I understand the terms of your demand, but I simply do not have the amount you’re requesting. Would you please consider a lesser amount. The absolute most I can do is $100 on Paypal,” wrote one victim, who was told the minimum was $250.

Some victims were actually successful in bargaining their ransom down. When cybercriminals come across a victim that just does not have the money, they may very well reduce the cost, as something is better than nothing.

One victim is even seen pleading with the ransomware author to decrypt his files so he can file his tax return and retrieve work-related data required for his job.

FireEye adds that even after payment, there is no guarantee that the criminals know how to decrypt your files, may not even bother.

“Unfortunately, the decryption does not always work. Sometimes the victims are infected with different types of malware that interfere with one another or bugs in the ransomware prevent all the victims’ files from being decrypted,” said FireEye’s Nart Villeneuve.

Villeneuve adds that FireEye anticipates ransomware will continue to grow. “The tools are easy to employ, and even inexperienced intruders can generate a quick profit from Internet users around the world who are desperate to recover their files and pay the ransom,” he said.

Cryptolocker, perhaps the most infamous ransomware type, has reportedly generated three million in transactions since 2013, so it’s easy to see why cyber-criminals are launching so many ransomware campaigns.

Jonathan Keane
Jonathan is a freelance technology journalist living in Dublin, Ireland. He's previously written for publications and sites…
Pocket is about to close. Use this read-it-later app instead
A woman looking at her phone.

Read-it-later app Pocket is closing down in just a week’s time, so if you’re still using it, now’s the time to switch to a similar app.

As an avid user of Pocket pretty much since it launched in 2007 as Read It Later, I felt a little sad to receive a message in May informing me that it would be shutting down on July 8.

Read more
A coding blunder just ruined a moment of joy for lottery winners
Eurojackpot lottery slips.

Imagine the joy of being notified of a huge lottery win. What would be the first thing you’d do? Get the champagne in? Book a fancy vacation? Call your boss and tell him where to go?

And then imagine being informed that the notification had, in fact, been sent in error. Well, you can always send the booze back and cancel the holiday, but trying to convince your boss that you were just joking ... well, that may be a bigger challenge.

Read more
This TP-Link Wi-Fi 6 router is 45% off in early Prime Day deal
The TP-Link AX1800 Archer AX21 Wi-FI 6 Router on a white background.

If you're planning to buy a new router to improve your home's Wi-Fi network, the good news is that you don't have to wait for Prime Day 2025 to take advantage of huge discounts on router deals from Amazon. Here's an excellent offer — the TP-Link Archer AX21 with an eye-catching 45% discount, which drops its price from $100 to just $55. The $45 in savings will only be available for a limited time though, so you better act fast and proceed with your purchase immediately as this early Prime Day deal may disappear at any moment.

Buy Now

Read more