On Ransomware and Envisioning the Enemy of Tomorrow

We warned the public more than 20 years ago that cryptoviral extortion would pose a major threat to users, a threat that has been realized with the advent of Bitcoin but largely neglected until recently. We believe that a reactive mindset along with group conformity are partly to blame for this oversight and, moreover, are negatively impacting secure systems research. This presents a recipe for disaster, for while cryptoviral extortion is wreaking havoc on the surface, covert cryptovirology attacks are likely gathering strength within the shadows.