New California Law: Deploy Ransomware, Face Four Years in Prison

January 6th, 2017

A new state law went into effect in California on January 1, 2017 that provides a maximum penalty of four years in state prison for deploying ransomware, Ars Technica reports.

SB 1137 was signed by Governor Jerry Brown on September 27, 2016.

“This legislation provides prosecutors the clarity they need to charge and convict perpetrators of ransomware,” California State Senator Bob Hertzberg said in a statement. “Unfortunately, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in the use of ransomware. This bill treats this crime, which is essentially an electronic stickup, with the seriousness it deserves.”