Ransomware, malicious software designed to block access to a computer system until a sum of money is paid, is rapidly on the rise, with some even calling it an epidemic. But just how many people do pay up when they are infected by ransomware?

To be precise, it’s 38 percent, according to a study undertaken by security firm Trustlook Inc. Some 17 percent of those polled said they had been infected with ransomware, with the most common ransom demand sitting between $100 to $500.

Interestingly, though, 45 percent of consumers claim they have never heard of ransomware. And 23 percent of those surveyed said that they do not backup the files on their computer or mobile device, doing so being one important way of restoring a computer that has been infected.

“Most users are completely unaware of the threat posed by ransomware attacks and are not prepared to handle them,” the company said in an email. “Trustlook’s research shows that this lack of awareness and apathy is resulting in insufficient action taken to protect devices and data.”

An additional 48 percent of those polled said they were not worried about becoming a victim of a ransomware attack, with only 7 percent of non-impacted consumers saying they would be prepared to pay a ransom if they were infected.

Trustlook co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Allan Zhang advised users to backup their data “to multiple devices, and to at least one device that is not connected to a network,” and also to “be cautious of emails by checking the sender’s email address before clicking any link.”

Image: Wikimedia Commons