勒索是猖獗。在SonicWALL GRID网络的威胁在2016年检测到380万次勒索软件攻击增加，2015年6.38亿根据Radware的报告显示，企业49％是由在2016年一个勒索攻击命中常常攻击者询问cybercurrency一定量- 通常比特币 - 换来提供解密密钥。
其中一个问题便是勒索攻击是否会减少，如果比特币不复存在？安全专家回答有一个响亮的“不”，这表明网络罪犯将只是移动到另一个匿名付款方式继续他们的敲诈这个问题。
"Getting rid of Bitcoin to stop ransomware would be like the U.S. Government getting rid of $100 bills to try to stop drug dealers from laundering their dirty money. It’s not the right solution. Would it momentarily create a bump in the road for cyber attackers who are making millions off of ransomware? Absolutely, but only for a fleeting moment,” said Richard Henderson, global security strategist at绝对。
他补充说，攻击者只需切换到任何其他几十个流行的虚拟货币，或交换机与其他容易洗涤槽能够文书，如预付信用卡。“请记住，GreenDot MoneyPak是网络犯罪分子的喜爱不久以前。攻击者只要找到另一种方式来获得报酬。”
虽然支付赎金是高度气馁，许多安全专家说严重降低勒索的唯一途径是通过用户教育。
“我们不打算摆脱勒索容易。As long as people continue to struggle to keep their devices fully-patched and protected, and as long as people continue to open attachments they shouldn’t or click on links they probably shouldn’t, attackers are going to be able to infect machines,” Henderson said.