After 13 episodes and one guest episode, The Ransomware Files project has come to a close.  I want to thank everyone who participated and supported it. I wish this project had come to an end because ransomware was no longer a problem. Unfortunately, that's not the case. It remains one of the internet's greatest crime waves. I hope some of the main motivations I had for this project live on. There should be no shame heaped on organisations that are attacked and held to ransom. But let's also be open to talking about how these events happen in a constructive way so we can all improve our information security practices. Thank you.

What if you were hired for an office job but ended up negotiating with cybercriminals? There aren’t many rules around the cybercrime known as ransomware, but this is a story about one rule that was definitely broken. By the end it, the path to the truth lead to a place on the other side of the world. It was a place that no one expected and disturbingly, no one wanted to be.

Speakers: Renee Dudley, Technology Reporter, ProPublica, and co-author of "The Ransomware Hunting Team"; Jeremy Kirk, Executive Editor, Information Security Media Group.

The Ransomware Files theme song by Chris Gilbert/©Ordinary Weirdos Records.

Other music by Blue Dot Sessions.

Follow The Ransomware Files on Twitter: @ransomwarefiles

Follow The Ransomware Files on Instagram: @theransomwarefiles

Dain Drake was CEO of United Structures of America, a steel fabrication facility outside of Houston. In June 2019, Dain found himself standing outside an adult boutique in Houston at 10 AM on a Sunday morning. It was closed. He called the owner and pleaded for him to come and open the shop. He needed something inside, which might just save his business – from ransomware.

Speakers: Dain Drake, former CEO, United Structures of America; Jeremy Kirk, Executive Editor, Information Security Media Group.

A transcript for this episode is here.

Production Coordinator: Rashmi Ramesh.

The Ransomware Files theme song by Chris Gilbert/©Ordinary Weirdos Records.

Other music by Blue Dot Sessions.

Follow The Ransomware Files on Twitter: @ransomwarefiles

Follow The Ransomware Files on Instagram: @theransomwarefiles