The ethical debate surrounding the use of malware
The ethical debate surrounding the use of malware is a long and complicated one. Opponents of the use of malware argue that it is an intrusive and dangerous tool that can be used to harm innocent people. Proponents of the use of malware argue that it is a necessary evil that can be used to combat the growing threat of cybercrime. The debate is likely to continue for many years to come.View it
The cost of malware to businesses and individuals
The direct and indirect cost of malware to businesses and individuals is difficult to quantify. A 2017 study by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and McAfee estimated the global cost of cybercrime at $600 billion, with $290 billion of that total attributable to malware. However, this study only looked at the financial costs and did not factor in the costs of productivity loss, brand damage, or disruption to operations.
In 2016, the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) responded to approximately 30,000 incidents, which resulted in estimated losses of over $1.6 billion. In 2017, the Internet Security Threat Report from Symantec found that the average cost of a malware attack to a business was $2.4 million. This figure takes into account the cost of downtime, lost productivity, IT services, legal fees, and damage to reputation.
The WannaCry ransomware attack in May of 2017 provides a good case study of the costs associated with malware. This attack affected over 230,000 computers in 150 countries and caused an estimated $4 billion in damages. The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) was one of the hardest hit, with 19,000 appointments cancelled and operations postponed as a result of the attack.
While the WannaCry attack was relatively unsophisticated, it highlights the fact that even a small-scale malware attack can have a significant impact on businesses and individuals. The WannaCry attack also serves as a reminder that the costs of malware are not always purely financial. The indirect costs of malware, such as disruption to operations and loss of productivity, can often be much more difficult to quantify than the direct costs.
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