An F-Secure infographic on ransomware starts:
That sounds a bit harsh don’t you think?
What if the ransomware in question were being used to:
- Cripple “business as usual” strategies of corporate entities
- Force divestiture from morally questionable entities or projects
- Interfere with unlawful surveillance
- Sanction illegal law enforcement conduct (Think Standing Rock)
Would you still agree with: Abandon All Ethical And Moral Principles[?]”
What if ransomware were used to stop:
- coal mining companies that dump “excess spoil” in rivers and streams
- oil transport companies that maintain leaky pipelines
- usurers such as title pawn companies
- police and prosecutors who abuse minorities
- (add your target(s) to the list)
Is that ethical and/or moral?
General state of ransomware, see Evalutating the Customer Journey of Cryto-Ransomware And the Paradox Behind It by F-Secure
Make your own decisions but relinquishing a weapon because your enemy thinks poorly of its use makes no sense to me.