  We present in this work an economic analysis of ransomware, with relevant
data from Cryptolocker, CryptoWall, TeslaCrypt and other major strands. We
include a detailed study of the impact that different price discrimination
strategies can have on the success of a ransomware family, examining uniform
pricing, optimal price discrimination and bargaining strategies and analysing
their advantages and limitations. In addition, we present results of a
preliminary survey that can helps in estimating an optimal ransom value. We
discuss at each stage whether the different schemes we analyse have been
encountered already in existing malware, and the likelihood of them being
implemented and becoming successful. We hope this work will help to gain some
useful insights for predicting how ransomware may evolve in the future and be
better prepared to counter its current and future threat.
