Senators: Has Uncle Sam Paid Off Ransomware Criminals? (securityledger.com)

chicksdaddy writes: Just a month after an FBI official admitted that his agency sometimes advised companies stricken with ransomware to pay the ransom, two U.S. Senators are requesting information about federal agencies' encounters with ransomware malware, and whether Uncle Sam might have paid ransoms, also. "Have federal state or local governments sought DOJ or FBI’s help to remove ransomware from their computers," the Senators asked in a letter (PDF download) addressed to Attorney General Loretta Lynch. "If so, please describe the nature of any assistance sought, whether agencies have paid ransoms to remove ransomware, and whether DOJ or the FBI was able to decrypt the computer systems."

Comments

Re:Is ransomware tax-deductible?

[Misch]

Yes. An individual can deduct the amount minus ($100 + 10% of AGI) Source: NY Times, Extortion counts as theft. IRS

Businesses get treated more favorably, they can deduct actual losses.