Android Ransomware Kits on the Rise in the Dark Web [source: darkreading]

10 Dec 2017

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More than 5,000 Android ransomware kit listings have been spotted so far this year, with the median price range hitting $200.

Most ransomware kits still focus on targeting Windows systems, but Android ransomware kits are selling for a premium and are expected to grow in volume and price, according to a new report.

Android ransomware kits sell for a median price that is 20 times higher than the $10 median price of Windows ransomware kits, Carbon Black found. And at the high-end, Carbon Black this year found 1,683 Android ransomware kits out of a total of 5,050 that cost anywhere from $250 to $850.

Earlier this year, for example, cybercriminals launched DoubleLocker ransomware for Android devices to not only lock up their data but also change their pin. One cybercriminal wanted $854 for the Locker Android ransomware kit, according to Carbon Black.

Several catalysts are expected to drive the price and sales volume of these ransomware kits even higher, says Rick McElroy, a Carbon Black security strategist.

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