When Crime Looks Like a Startup: Data Seizure and the Social Cost of Ransomware
- SysColleague
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Data‑seizing groups now operate like criminal startups, funding themselves through system‑capture operations.
Their business model drives organized actions that impact entire communities, not just isolated systems.
These groups operate with affiliates, technical support, and ready‑to‑use platforms.
Their goal is to make quick profits by taking advantage of human and technological weaknesses, affecting small businesses and vulnerable public institutions.
The financial success of these groups creates a worrying cycle: more money enables more attacks, greater sophistication, and a constant expansion of social harm.
The threat grows as the business succeeds.
When an organization is targeted, it doesn’t just lose information.
It also faces operational disruptions, loss of trust, higher costs, and a direct impact on the well‑being of its customers and employees.
Understanding the criminal model shows how money fuels the risk
When we realize these groups operate like businesses that rely on capturing data, we also see that every payment strengthens their growth and their ability to cause more harm.
Prevention stops being a technical task and becomes a strategic choice to slow down an expanding criminal economy.
Example: A small business pays a fee to “get back to work,” not knowing that the money may later support an attack on a local hospital.
Seeing the scale helps prepare red teams and build stronger communities
By understanding the social and economic impact, organizations see that protecting files is not enough; they must prepare people, processes, and culture to face risks that affect everyone.
Collective awareness strengthens both red teams and citizens, increasing their ability to stay resilient.
A city trained in attack simulations spots unusual activity early and prevents a service disruption that could affect thousands of residents.
Sources: Europol. Internet Organised Crime Threat Assessment, https://www.europol.europa.eu | Verizon. Data Breach Investigations Report. https://www.verizon.com/business/resources/reports/dbir/ | World Economic Forum. Global Cybersecurity Outlook. https://www.weforum.org
