Spain busts ransomware ring

Authorities in Spain have busted a ring of computer criminals. Their speciality: Ransomware, an infuriating kind of computer attack where a virus gets introduced that locks up the computer system and demands a cash ransom. Most of those arrested were Russians allegedly operating out of two resort cities along Spain’s mediterrean coast.

Spanish authorities say they’d received nearly 800,000 complaints about the virus. There were 1,200 victims in more than 30 countries with most concentrated in Europe. 

Cyrus Farivar at the tech publican Ars Technica, who has been following the story, joins Marketplace Tech host David Brancaccio to break down the story and explain how you can protect yourself.