Clueless s’kiddies using exploit kits are behind ransomware surge

And WHY NOT?

Aside from moral considerations (whatever those are?), why shouldn't any script kiddie jump up and roll their very own ransomware with a do-it-yourself kit? After all, ransomware seems to be a very good revenue generator with hospitals, universities and even law enforcement agencies paying good money for the decryption keys. It's easy money!

And how often do we hear about these buggers getting caught and punished for their crimes? Pretty much never. As long as crime pays so well with so very little downside risk, why not go for it? And there's lots less risk getting "free money" with a keyboard than with a cosh, knife or gun.

Internet theft is just going to get worse until some geniuses figure out a way to totally stop or catch and punish these ransomware authors and other miscreants. The Internet, instead of being a shiny "information superhighway" is becoming more and more like a potholed street in a seedy neighborhood you don't feel safe in, especially after dark.