May 14, 2021

The complex moral issue of paying hackers ransom

As these kinds of cyberattacks are becoming more common, demand is growing for cybersecurity experts. Logan Cyrus/AFP via Getty Images

Several news organizations are reporting that Colonial Pipeline did pay hackers ransom to regain control of their data and their systems, reportedly something in the $5 million range. And, people are buying cars at a near-record pace, if you can find them. The low supply and high prices are related to the global semiconductor chip shortage. There's still no definitive timeline for when that shortage could end.

Segments From this episode

Paying ransom to hackers "kind of already is the new normal." Here's what that means for business operations.

That’s according to the BBC’s Joe Tidy. He estimates that more than half of companies hit by ransomware attacks pay.

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The effects of the global chip shortage can be seen in the average price of a new car

Marketplace’s Andy Uhler has more.

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Music from the episode

The Young Machines (Album Leaf Remix) Her Space Holiday

The team

David Brancaccio Host

Victoria Craig Host, BBC

Stephen Ryan Senior Producer, BBC

Jonathan Frewin Producer, BBC

Daniel Shin Producer

Jay Siebold Technical Director

Brian Allison Engineer

Meredith Garretson Morbey Senior Producer

Erika Soderstrom Producer

Rose Conlon Producer

Alex Schroeder Producer

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