Asking for what you want
Ransom:
"a sum of money demanded or paid for the release of a captive."
Ransomware:
"a type of malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until the target pays a sum of money."
Looking at samples of ransomware notes.
Some observations on the note: The instructions are very clear
- They tell you exactly what they did, so you know what happened
- They outline how standard troubleshooting methods could permanently damage the data
- They give step-by-step instructions for contacting them to retrieve the information
- They inform you of the time-sensitivity of contacting them by a specified period of time.
Here's another example:
An almost identical note. Can you spot where these two ransom notes diverge?
When the stakes are high, you cannot afford the risk of misinterpreted messages. I don't condone the actions, but this is a great example of how clear communication is so important.
Unless the intention is not to get the message across but to misdirect.
When one party wants to give a vague response, here are some ways they could beat around the bush:
