Examples of cyber extortion

2005-05-17 09:26

Johannesburg - Computers contaminated by electronic bots (a type of virus) can be controlled by a syndicate from a central point. The syndicate can then use these infected computers as a "digital army" to threaten businesses.

In one case, a website that processes online bets before big horse races, was threatened with the possibility that thousands of computers would try to access its website at the same time. The network provider would not have been able to handle that many requests at the same time and would therefore crash.

The website would have lost millions in online bets. Syndicates offered "protection" against such an attack - at a price.

A well-known pharmaceutical company was threatened with a cyber attack of thousands of infected computers all across the globe. Such an attack would have held up the production of medicine.

If something goes wrong with the production of licensed medicines, the company, according to international regulations, has to suspend all production and the entire process must be investigated and licensed all over again.

This can take months and lead to a loss of millions of dollars in lost production. Syndicates again offered "protection" against such an attack if a ransom is paid.

- Sake