Sen. Bob Hertzberg's (D-Van Nuys), a California state senator, has introduced a bill in the legislature that would make it a felony to intentionally use ransomware.

Many feel it would be a useless effort as it is so difficult to catch the hackers. The bill is comparable to the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA).

The backers of the bill feel that although it is very difficult to catch the hackers, at least the bill would update the penal code and be enforceable if and when a hacker is caught.

Don Hoffman, a prosecutor with Cyber Investigation Response Team of the Los Angeles County district attorney's office, simply said: “You buy an umbrella before it starts raining.”

Source: SCMagazine