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Sun, 10 May 2026

Sun, 10 May 2026 Cyber-crime increasingly coming with threats of physical violence

While hackers used to sneak into computer systems, intimidation of staff is now more common.

* Cyber-attacks have increased globally, with a record high of 1,008,597 reported instances in the US last year.
* In many cases, hackers threaten physical violence against staff members who refuse to pay ransom demands.
* The number of such threats has risen more than twofold in the US last year, according to FBI data.
* In some cases, attackers have accessed personal data and used it to intimidate staff by making phone calls and revealing their home addresses.
* Some hackers have even taken control of manufacturing machinery and demonstrated their control by turning devices on and off.
* Many ransomware gangs are state-sponsored, but most physical threats tend to come from financially-motivated groups.
* These groups often pay others to threaten or carry out violence, with some hackers being as young as 17-25 years old.
* The threat of violence has been linked to cryptocurrency investment, with several high-profile cases involving kidnappings and physical attacks.
* Europol and the FBI have issued warnings about the increased risk of violence from online-linked criminals offering "violence-as-a-service".