Ransomware Rescue Firms Re‑victimize Victims

Private data‑recovery companies sometimes claim they can recover encrypted files without paying attackers but in practice pay ransoms and charge victims expensive fees, effectively doubling harm. A federal indictment of MonsterCloud’s CEO Zohar Pinhasi makes this pattern prosecutable rather than merely investigatory. — This reframes part of the ransomware problem: policy and enforcement must target not only hackers but also commercial intermediaries and insurers that enable the extortion economy.