When Ransomware Hits Home: A Hacker’s Mistake, a Victim’s Nightmare
This negotiation reveals an unusual and telling detail: the ransomware was mistakenly deployed against an individual, not a business. The attacker realizes this early on and quickly adapts their tactics—abandoning corporate-sized demands and instead engaging in a drawn-out, personalized bargaining session. It’s a rare look at how these attackers calibrate their extortion in real time, based not just on technical targets, but on human ones.
Ransomware negotiations are more than technical crises—they are psychological battlegrounds. In many cases, victims express confusion or a lack of understanding not only out of desperation, but as a subtle tactic. By asking questions and engaging with the attacker’s language, the victim can create the illusion of dialogue, which may elicit sympathy or empathy. This apparent vulnerability can delay the process, buying the victim precious time to gather information or consider their options. It may also foster a sense of rapport, encouraging the attacker to explain terms or justify demands—shifting the emotional tone of the exchange.
"What is rdp access? What is all this?"
These kinds of questions can slow the pace of the negotiation, giving the victim time to consider their options or seek outside help. But more subtly, they may also function as a psychological tactic—an attempt to reframe the relationship from predator and prey to uneasy participants in a shared process. By mirroring the attacker’s language and engaging with their terminology, the victim attempts to build rapport, appeal to reason, and regain a sliver of control in an otherwise helpless situation.
A Conversation Begins in Desperation
The victim begins with simple, panicked messages:
"hello… how do I get key?"
The attacker replies with cold instructions:
"you need to pay the ransom in bitcoins… 0.7 bitcoin after payment you will receive the decryption program."
That amount translates to roughly $33,000 USD. The victim’s emotional plea soon follows:
"Sir, respectfully, that is like $50,000 dollars. I barely have money to feed my kids."
The attacker corrects the figure:
"0.7 btc = 33000$"
When the victim offers $2,000 instead:
"I can offer $2000 dollars 0.04btc"
The attacker doesn’t walk away—instead, they counter:
"if you're willing to pay, we can bargain."
What follows is a tense but human back-and-forth: a negotiation that more closely resembles a used car haggling session than a high-tech cybercrime.
From Threat to Transaction
As the negotiation progresses, the attacker further softens their position:
"Okay, we're in a good mood. And we'll settle for a minimum of $12,000. Don't ask for less, respect our labor."
The victim continues pleading:
"I am not Microsoft or Visa. I'm one person working hard to feed my family."
Eventually, the attacker offers a "final price":
"$5,000 last offer from us"
This shift in tone reveals something deeper: they realize this is not a corporate target. They adapt, aiming to extract something rather than walk away empty-handed. The attacker even says later:
"We break everything in a row, and you're an accident, so the price is $5,000."
Trust, Proof, and Technical Failures
The victim asks for reassurance:
"Please can you send me proof that I will be ok after transaction? What if you take my money and run away?"
The attacker offers a compromise—decrypt a small file as proof. But technical issues plague the victim’s efforts. File transfers fail, applications won’t launch, browsers are incompatible, and desperation builds:
"My PC isn't working right. All files have 2023lock… please upload from your side? I'm desperate."
The attacker, seemingly growing frustrated, refuses:
"Since you're not a company, we didn't upload your files. We only upload company files."
They then suggest an alarming alternative—remote access. When the victim doesn’t fully grasp the implications, the attacker snaps:
"Are you kidding us? This is access to your computer."
It's a chilling moment where the mask slips. The attacker doesn’t just want money—they’re willing to take full control if necessary. But again, the victim is hindered by technical errors and confusion:
"My son is getting BTC. I will pay. I need your help please."
The Tipping Point: Disbelief and Accusation
After much delay, the victim claims to have sent the Bitcoin payment:
"0.12 bitcoin is sent."
But the attacker insists otherwise:
"We can't see your payment… blockchain open network 0 bitcoin on our wallet."
"You haven't paid anything and pissed us off. The price is back to 0.7 bitcoin."
The attacker repeatedly links to the wallet to "prove" the balance is zero. The victim, confused, begs for help:
"I don't know what this means. Please, I paid you. Now help me."
Eventually, the attacker shuts down emotionally:
"Don't distract us from our work. Pay up or goodbye."
A Quick Human Connection
The conversation takes an unusual turn when the victim tries to change tactics:
"Ok I have a better offer. I know of a way to make $15,750 US dollars every 12 hours... you look like you have skills."
The attacker responds:
"We're not interested. We make millions of dollars. Dialog is over."
Despite this, the conversation continues. The attacker jokes:
"What's your name? Agent Smith?"
"You've lifted our spirits."
And reveals personal details:
"We're 18 years old. From an orphanage. From India, sir."
This strange camaraderie builds briefly. The victim responds with empathy:
"I'm sorry to hear that. Most people are good. Most elite suck."
But as quickly as it comes, it fades. The attacker reminds them:
"You can pay and be done with it."
Like a Small Boat in a Storm
The negotiation feels much like a lone sailor caught in a violent storm—unprepared, disoriented, and at the mercy of shifting winds. The victim, like a fragile boat, is tossed between waves of hope and despair, trying to stay afloat with pleas and compromises. Meanwhile, the attacker controls the weather—deciding when to ease the winds and when to crash another wave down. There’s no map, no lighthouse, and no guarantee of rescue. Just a desperate effort to steer toward safety, hoping the storm decides to let them go.
Conclusion: More Than Just Data
This case offers a disturbing glimpse into the modern realities of ransomware. It's not just about data—it’s about people, emotions, manipulation, and suffering. Attackers no longer simply deploy malware and wait. They engage. They negotiate. They exploit vulnerabilities, both technical and human.
In this negotiation, we saw adaptability from the attacker, who recalibrated demands based on the victim’s status. We saw the victim try every possible angle—logic, empathy, bargaining, stalling—to survive the encounter. Most tragically, we saw how these digital invasions can destroy lives even when no money changes hands.
"You ruined my life for some money… I hope your god can forgive you cuz I won’t."
It’s a haunting reminder that for every compromised machine, there’s a human being on the other side of the screen—fighting, pleading, and hoping for mercy.
Full Transcript
Victim: hello
Victim: hello
Victim: hello
Attacker: hello
Victim: how do i get key?
Attacker: you need to pay the
ransom in bitcoins to a wallet
[redacted] amount 0.7 bitcoin after
payment you will receive the decryption program
Victim: Sir, respectfully, that is like $50000 dollars. I barely have money to feed my kids.
Attacker: 0.7 btc = 33000$
Victim: That is still a very large sum. I can offer $2000 dollars 0.04btc
Attacker: if you're willing to pay, we can bargain.
Attacker: $2,000 is very little
Victim: Sir I am not microsoft or visa. I'm one person working hard to feed my family
Attacker: Okay, we're in a good mood. And we'll settle for a minimum of $12,000. Don't ask for less, respect our labor.
Victim: I do not have that much money sir.
Attacker: Pino, offer a sum, but not $2,000.
Attacker:
Victim: Okay I can offer $2500
Attacker: it's a very small amount
Victim: It is all I have. As I said, I am one person trying to feed my family
Attacker: $5,000 last offer from us
Victim: ok how much is that in bitcoin?
Attacker: 0.12 bitcoin
Victim: Ok. I have to buy that much. Please wait.
Attacker: ok
Victim: Ok. my son is buying now.
Attacker: ok
Victim: ction
Victim: Please can you send me proof that I will be ok after transaction? what if you take my money and run away?
Attacker: yes send 1 encrypted file not more than 2 mb we will make a free decryption for proof.
Attacker: https://www.file.io/
Victim: How do I send?
Attacker: upload it here
Attacker: https://www.file.io/
Victim: Not working.
Victim:
Attacker: https://dropmefiles.com/
Attacker: try
Victim: Its saying file not found
Victim: Can you please send me a decrypted file? Is that possible?
Attacker: send us the file and we'll decrypt it.
Victim: It wont let me. Please send me from your side.
Attacker: sendspace.com
Attacker: try
Attacker: https://filetransfer.io/
Victim: What email address?
Attacker: [redacted]@onionmail.org
Victim: file upload error on sendspace trying the next one
Attacker: send the file to the e-mail above
Victim:
Victim: dll error on filetransfer.io
Victim: my pc is not working right. can you please upload from your side? please? Im desperate
Attacker: We need you to send
us a file and we will do a test, how big do you send the file? Try to
send it to us by e-mail or put the file in an archive and send it
through exchangers.
Victim: It is small pdf.
Attacker: or give me access to your computer
Attacker: [redacted]:4000;[redacted]\[redacted]
Victim: my pc isn't working right. all files has 2023lock
Victim: please send me clean file from your side. that will be proof enough from me
Attacker: delete 2023lock from the filename and try to upload it to a file-sharing service or zip it.
Attacker: for us to send you a file you have to send it to us first.
Attacker: we value our reputation, we won't cheat.
Victim: Not working. I cannot do anything on this pc.
Victim: You have my files you said. Please upload to me
Attacker: then pay up and take my word for it we will send you the program with a link, you just need to run it and wait for it
Victim: Can you not just upload 1 file? Please? 1 file will not hurt you? I have thousands of files locked
Attacker: since you're not a company we didn't upload your files We only upload company files
Attacker: we will give you a test if you upload us the file for the test.
Victim: but my pc is broken, i cannot upload
Attacker: download google browser and install it. download through it, tor browser can cause errors.
Attacker: and upload the file to us through the file exchanges we provided above.
Victim: install fails
Victim: says not recognised application
Attacker: https://dropmefiles.com/
Attacker: https://www.file.io/
Attacker: https://filetransfer.io/
Attacker: how did you download the tor browser?
Attacker: through the iexlorer?
Victim: yes
Attacker: https://file.io/[redacted]
Attacker: download and run you give us remote access and we'll do a test.
Attacker: https://anydesk.com
Victim: says application not 32bit
Attacker: download anydesk and give us an ID
Victim: ok
Attacker:
Victim: failed to launch dll
Victim: [redacted]:4000;[redacted]\[redacted]
Victim: what is this above?
Attacker: Are you kidding us? This is access to your computer.
Victim: yes the anydesk says dll error
Victim: but what is 99.247? what does that do?
Attacker: for us to do the test, you need to upload the file to us. e-mail
Attacker: rdp access
Victim: what is rdp access? what is all this....?[redacted]?
Attacker: https://filetransfer.io/data-package/[redacted]#link
Attacker: download run
Victim: cannot run
Attacker: you're the owner of the computer? or are you playing a joke on us?
Attacker: you're asking the strangest questions
Victim:
Victim: yes i own the computer
Victim: im not joking
Victim: my life is in your hands
Victim: i'm trying everything you tell me
Victim: Im such a loser
Victim: my wife will leave me. she will take my children
Attacker: for the test, send the file to us by e-mail or pay on your word and we will give you a decryption program.
Victim: i will pay. my son is getting btc
Victim: i need your help please.
Victim: how do i stop being hacked?
Attacker: run iexlorer
Attacker: use https://dropmefiles.com/ helper: https://www.file.io/ helper: https://filetransfer.io/
Victim: iexlorer not found
Attacker: like this you said
you downloaded tor You're kidding. this conversation will now be over
and the price will return to 0.7 bitcoin.
Victim: do you mean internet explorer?
Victim: i can start that
Attacker: if you downloaded the tor you should be good to go.
Victim: ok but it wont let me upload
Attacker: for the test we are
waiting for the file, the price of 0.12 btc will be valid during the
day. you can send the file in the ways described above
Victim: Ok. i will try.
Attacker: send email
Victim:
Victim: what does during the day mean?
Victim: how many hours?
Victim: what time?
Attacker: if you don't pay today. tomorrow we will refund the original price of 0.7 bitcoin.
Attacker: 24 hours
Victim: ok but what does today mean? what time? since i think you might be in another country
Attacker: 24 hours
Victim: can you give me 48? I
might be able to get a little more bitcoin. I need you to help me stop
being hacked. I will pay extra for that
Attacker: we said it all,you
have 24 hours to pay 0.12 bitcoin,after that time the price will be 0.7
bitcoin,after payment we will give you a couple of cyber security tips
Attacker: If you don't pay, we'll delete your encryption keys and you'll never get your files back.
Victim: Ok. I can understand you cant upload files. Can you show me how you got the 99.247 thing please?
Attacker: you can't download the file for the test, all questions after payment.
Victim: As a show of good faith please? you have the upper hand. I am sunk without these files
Attacker: pay, and you'll have all the answers.
Victim: ok please wait
Attacker: ok
Victim: josi
Attacker: ?
Victim: Ok 0.12 bitcoin is sent
Attacker: we can't see your payment.
Attacker: https://www.blockchain.com/explorer/addresses/btc/[redacted]
Victim: my son sent it to this address [redacted]
Attacker: https://www.blockchain.com/explorer/addresses/btc/[redacted]
Attacker: blockchain open network 0 bitcoin on our wallet
Victim: Please check again. We sent it
Attacker: https://www.blockchain.com/explorer/addresses/btc/[redacted]
Attacker: you can see for yourself
Victim: i dont know what this means. please i paid you now help me
Attacker: Anyway, when you're done making jokes, text me.
Attacker: you haven't paid anything and pissed us off the price is back to 0.7 bitcoin
Victim: im not joking please.
Attacker: you haven't paid anything and pissed us off the price is back to 0.7 bitcoin
Attacker: don't distract us from our work, pay up or goodbye.
Victim: Sir please. this is not funny
Victim: Hello
Victim: Ok I have a better
offer. I know of a way to make $15750 US dollars every 12 hours. I
cannot do it as I would be caught. You look like you have skills.
Attacker: the dialog will continue after payment
Attacker: dialog is over
Victim:
Victim: You will make more in 1 week.
Victim: than .7btc
Victim: easy money
Attacker: We're not interested. we make millions of dollars dialog is over
Victim: then why is your btc address empty?
Attacker: because you didn't send the money there.)
Attacker:
Victim: But if you have millions shouldn't there be some btc there
Victim: But if you have millions shouldn't there be some btc there
Attacker: we keep everything in a different wallet https://www.blockchain.com/explorer/addresses/BTC/[redacted]
Victim: You know that's a random address you found online. This your first scam?
Attacker: this is our address
Victim: https://www.blockchain.com/explorer/addresses/BTC/[redacted]
Attacker: ?
Attacker: I love talking to people like you.)
Victim: you love causing grief? what would your mother think?
Attacker: what's your name? agent smith?
Attacker: you've lifted our spirits.
Attacker: I don't have a mother. I'm from an orphanage.
Victim: im not as cool as agent smith
Victim: im sorry to hear that.
Victim: are all of you from an orphanage?
Attacker: Yes, from India, sir.
Victim: From India? I don't believe you. You are too polite to be Indian
Attacker: I like Canadian law enforcement, but fbi is more interesting, no offense.
Victim: They both suck. They are only for the rich
Attacker: Every nation has good people and bad people.
Victim: Most people are good. Most elite suck
Attacker: Elon Musk? Sucks?
Victim: He has billions. He could singlehandedly fix most of society's problems but he is greedy.
Victim: I work day and night for my children
Attacker: he's my friend.
Victim: He is no one's friend
Attacker: and we don't have kids. We're kids ourselves. We're 18 years old.
Attacker: our friend
Victim: My son is 17. I see no future for him
Victim: And now you have taken away even a small bit of hope.
Attacker: put him in hacker school.
Attacker: how we robbed him of his future?
Victim: You took my work. I will lose the very little I have. How will I send him to any school?
Attacker: you can pay and get the data back.
Victim: I already sent .12 btc I know you were just scamming me
Victim: That money was for my son's medical bills
Victim: He said, it's ok papa i will send it
Attacker: you can look it up yourself on the blockchain You didn't send us anything.
Attacker: but he didn't send it
Victim: ou
Victim: i have no reason to lie to you
Victim: you have every reason to lie to me
Victim: i don't have anymore money. what do I do now?
Victim: no money, broken computer.
Victim: sick son
Victim: tell me where is the positive?
Victim: tell me where is the positive?
Victim: i should just end it
Attacker:
Victim: it would be easy
Attacker: you've already proven you can look at wallet balances. and you say it's empty) where is 0.12 btc where is the logic?
Victim: i'm distraught. i dont have logic anymore
Victim: i hope it was worth it to you
Victim: destroying a poor man's life
Attacker: you can pay and be done with it.)
Victim: i already did.
Victim: i keep telling you this and you don't believe me
Attacker: everyone has a job to do. and $5,000 is not money in Canada.
Victim: $5000 is not money? You are joking.
Attacker: the balance of the wallet we created for you is 0 bitcoins.
Victim: well you have millions as you say
Victim: ok so where did the .12 go then?
Victim: It takes me 6 weeks to make 5000
Victim: and the goverment takes a lot taxes
Attacker: Well, it's not bad. We've been studying for years, too.
Victim: You are 18. you have no responsibilities
Victim: I have kids
Victim: You can just help me please?
Attacker: we've been learning to hack since we were 12 years old.
Victim: ok why don't you hack the big banks then?
Attacker: Respect our labor, we made you an extremely low price of 5000$ pay and get all the files back.
Victim: I did
Victim: I did
Victim: I did
Attacker: We break everything in a row, and you're an accident, so the price is $5,000.
Attacker: https://www.blockchain.com/explorer/addresses/btc/[redacted]
Victim: how am i an accident?
Victim: can you explain please?
Victim: and i paid more than 5000 for that btc
Attacker: It doesn't look like you transferred bitcoin.
Victim: I dont know what my son did. He took the last of our money to send it and now i have nothing?
Attacker: Consider this a cyber literacy lesson for you. for only $5,000
Victim:
Victim: please take pity on me and help me
Attacker: so ask your son
Attacker: respect our work
Victim: I dont have 5000 more
Attacker: pay us.
Victim: you were paid
Attacker: we're not asking for more We only want 5,000.
Attacker: we didn't get paid.
Victim:
Attacker: https://www.blockchain.com/explorer/addresses/btc/[redacted]
Victim: You got paid now you want more
Victim: You are just greedy
Victim: taking from the poor
Victim: you cant hack banks?
Attacker: https://www.blockchain.com/explorer/addresses/btc/[redacted] 0 bitcoin
Attacker: we hack a lot of things)
Victim: so why me
Attacker: that you'd pay us 5,000 for ice cream.
Victim: please. no jokes
Victim: you have enough money. just help me out please
Attacker: pay and we'll help you. Once again, we say respect our work.
Victim: You have enough to give me a pass. I just want my files back. 5000 to you is peanuts. 5000 to me is life chaning
Attacker: then why are you playing dumb?
Attacker: 5,000 and you'll get it all back.
Victim: give it all back and I send you another 4000
Victim: you already have 5000
Attacker: it's a lie show us the money in our wallet balance.
Attacker:
Attacker: https://www.blockchain.com/explorer/addresses/btc/[redacted]
Victim: this is what you do to make money
Victim: who has lying reputation
Victim: me or you
Attacker: we have a crystal clear reputation, if we get paid we always return the data to the client
Victim: where is this reputation? show me please
Victim: well i can't say it's been nice chatting with you. have a nice life
Attacker: can you find a
single mention on the Internet that we screwed anyone over. and didn't
return the data after payment You won't find
Attacker: if you think about paying, come back and we'll return the data. have a nice day
Victim: i paid already and you have no reputation
Victim: you ruined my life for some money
Victim: i hope your god can forgive you cuz i wont
Attacker: Show me your wallet where you paid? What are you playing dumb for?
Attacker: I'll let you in on a little secret, there is no God.
Victim: He will smite you
Victim: trc comp load mtdata
Attacker: We're all going to
die someday. Some sooner, some later. If you want your data back, pay
us. We won't delete your key. You made us smile
Victim: There more to this than meets the eye
Victim: Good luck :)
Attacker: u2