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Do hackers ask for ransom as a single payment, or there is more of a scalable repeatable business model with recurring revenue? A subscription service seems con

Do hackers ask for ransom as a single payment, or there is more of a scalable repeatable business model with recurring revenue? A subscription service seems convenient.

c7DJTLrn 3y ago
20% off for the yearly plan, or buy one get one free on Black Friday.
- waboremo 3y ago
  Is there a student discounted plan?
  - jacquesm 3y ago
    Only if you first send them only copy of your thesis.
henriquez 3y ago
The hackers offer a lifetime licensing model for their ExtortionPro SaaS service. With a single convenient payment you can be guaranteed that your enterprise security and confidential information is in good hands. At least until the hacking group is acquired and they reposition their offering as a two year subscription.
- WakoMan12 3y ago
  [dead]
boredumb 3y ago
If they can incorporate an LLM somewhere - they may even show up on the front page as a (YC 2024) project.
eastbound 3y ago
I like that you’re discussing revenue streams. They also add social proof on the pricing page (“We blackmailed hospital xyz with success”) and play dopamine effects (“Play PasswordGuessr to unlock a file, or pay to unlock all files”). The infinite scroll is coming to show what your API keys have access to (highly addictive, look at all those bank transactions and, mmh, revenge pics with your ex).
stan_kirdey 3y ago
lack of analytics offering over stolen data seemed like a missed opportunity too :(
outworlder 3y ago
> Do hackers ask for ransom as a single payment, or there is more of a scalable repeatable business model with recurring revenue? A subscription service seems convenient. Given that in many cases they are more skilled than the actual cybersec folks in those companies, they should charge a fee to monitor their systems. There's prior art for that business model. I'm told it was popular in Italy many years ago.
- grugagag 3y ago
  Pen testing is a thing even though I don’t know how attractive it is for hackers to do, full time. And probably black hat hacking is more rewarding in financial terms but also riskier.
- nyc_data_geek1 3y ago
  Congratulations, you just invented MDR, Managed Detection and Response.
seventytwo 3y ago
Maybe they can get an annuity and then call JG Wentworth.
labster 3y ago
If the hackers haven’t even figured out a business model to really scale out, maybe WD should just acquihire their firm. Not only do they get their data back, but they get a world-class red team to handle their customers’ security.
- LadyCailin 3y ago
  Sounds too expensive, and outside of WD’s core value proposition. What’s the value to the bottom line here? I’m just not seeing it. Time to buyback some stock!

Do hackers ask for ransom as a single payment, or there is more of a scalable repeatable business model with recurring revenue? A subscription service seems convenient.

c7DJTLrn 3y ago

20% off for the yearly plan, or buy one get one free on Black Friday.

waboremo 3y ago
Is there a student discounted plan?
- jacquesm 3y ago
  Only if you first send them only copy of your thesis.

henriquez 3y ago

The hackers offer a lifetime licensing model for their ExtortionPro SaaS service. With a single convenient payment you can be guaranteed that your enterprise security and confidential information is in good hands. At least until the hacking group is acquired and they reposition their offering as a two year subscription.

WakoMan12 3y ago
[dead]

boredumb 3y ago

If they can incorporate an LLM somewhere - they may even show up on the front page as a (YC 2024) project.

eastbound 3y ago

I like that you’re discussing revenue streams. They also add social proof on the pricing page (“We blackmailed hospital xyz with success”) and play dopamine effects (“Play PasswordGuessr to unlock a file, or pay to unlock all files”). The infinite scroll is coming to show what your API keys have access to (highly addictive, look at all those bank transactions and, mmh, revenge pics with your ex).

stan_kirdey 3y ago

lack of analytics offering over stolen data seemed like a missed opportunity too :(

outworlder 3y ago

> Do hackers ask for ransom as a single payment, or there is more of a scalable repeatable business model with recurring revenue? A subscription service seems convenient. Given that in many cases they are more skilled than the actual cybersec folks in those companies, they should charge a fee to monitor their systems. There's prior art for that business model. I'm told it was popular in Italy many years ago.

grugagag 3y ago
Pen testing is a thing even though I don’t know how attractive it is for hackers to do, full time. And probably black hat hacking is more rewarding in financial terms but also riskier.
nyc_data_geek1 3y ago
Congratulations, you just invented MDR, Managed Detection and Response.

seventytwo 3y ago

Maybe they can get an annuity and then call JG Wentworth.

labster 3y ago

If the hackers haven’t even figured out a business model to really scale out, maybe WD should just acquihire their firm. Not only do they get their data back, but they get a world-class red team to handle their customers’ security.

LadyCailin 3y ago
Sounds too expensive, and outside of WD’s core value proposition. What’s the value to the bottom line here? I’m just not seeing it. Time to buyback some stock!