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Unknown Hackers demand Ransom in Bitcoin

Recently the news came out of a ransomware attack in Old Delhi after three of the hacked victims came forward to uncover more about the attack. The victims i.e. the traders were demanded ransom in Bitcoin from the unknown hackers.

Although it is believed that the hackers are supposedly from either Nigeria or Pakistan, they were responsible for encrypting files on the computers of the businessmen which comprised of key records. The hackers at that point, as indicated by the police coerced the victims, gave them the links to purchase bitcoins through which they needed to make payments for the release of critical documents.

 “Some traders paid in Bitcoins and got their data back. Some deposited the money from abroad. When my data was hacked, I spoke to fellow traders and learnt that there were other such cases. I wrote to the hackers and they agreed to decrypt the files for $1,750 (around Rs 1.11 lakh),” Mohan Goyal, one of the victims was quoted saying in the report.

According to reports, the hacked traders found the message that said there was a 'security issue' in the system displayed on their computers. The traders were then given case numbers and email addresses for correspondence. They were then at first offered decryption of five of their documents and files for free by the hackers, who later demanded the payment of ransom for the rest of the records.

While one of the IP address utilized by hackers was purportedly traced back to a system in Germany, but the fingers remain pointed towards hackers from Nigeria and Pakistan.

Experts say that for making it difficult to trace the money, getting the money in bitcoin works for the hackers. The Delhi crime branch which registered the FIR has already sent the hard disks of the complainants for further forensic tests. As of not long ago, three complaints already have been registered by the police and it is believed that the number of victims could be much higher.