Why the TeslaCrypt posse decided to share the master decryption key to software that's made millions of dollars is unknown. "While it is possible that they felt bad for the damage done, another possible reason is that they wanted to start fresh with a new codebase," said Lysa Myers, a security researcher with Eset. After being in the ransomware racket for a while, the crew may have discovered that maintaining good software of any kind can be challenging. "Sometimes updates to an existing product can make things more error-prone, which makes it harder to make money," she told TechNewsWorld. "Ending an old project can allow for a clean slate from which to start again," Myers added. While the TeslaCrypt operators' move is surprising, it's unlikely they're getting out of the ransomware business, said Rahul Kashyap, chief security architect with Bromium. "They may want to change their payment scheme or try out a different business model," he told TechNewsWorld. "It's unlikely that they're deserting the ransomware business." Good Business Practice If the TeslaCrypt crew does indeed want to remain in the ransomware business, then releasing the master decryption key to the software could be a strategic move, noted Mark Nunnikhoven, vice president of cloud research atTrend Micro. "While it may seem like the right thing to do, there's a profit motivation even in this," he told TechNewsWorld. "Ransomware criminals rely on their reputation of actually releasing the data in order to entice victims to pay," Nunnikhoven said. "If the gang behind TeslaCrypt left victims high and dry, any new campaigns they are associated with would be less likely to be profitable due to their previous reputation." Fear of law enforcement is another possible reason for releasing the master key, surmised Brad Cyprus, chief of security and compliance at Netsurion. "The group may be concerned that if they continue to develop the code, it is only a matter of time before law enforcement catches them," he told TechNewsWorld. "By turning in the decryption key," Cyprus continued, "they're hoping to fall lower on law enforcement's radar while other malware and ransomware projects will garner more attention, leaving the makers of TeslaCrypt to spend their ill-gotten gains."
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Why the TeslaCrypt posse decided to share the master decryption key to software that's made millions of dollars is unknown. "While it is possible that they felt bad for the damage done, another possible reason is that they wanted to start fresh with a new codebase," said Lysa Myers, a security researcher with Eset. After being in the ransomware racket for a while, the crew may have discovered that maintaining good software of any kind can be challenging. "Sometimes updates to an existing product can make things more error-prone, which makes it harder to make money," she told TechNewsWorld. "Ending an old project can allow for a clean slate from which to start again," Myers added. While the TeslaCrypt operators' move is surprising, it's unlikely they're getting out of the ransomware business, said Rahul Kashyap, chief security architect with Bromium. "They may want to change their payment scheme or try out a different business model," he told TechNewsWorld. "It's unlikely that they're deserting the ransomware business." Good Business Practice If the TeslaCrypt crew does indeed want to remain in the ransomware business, then releasing the master decryption key to the software could be a strategic move, noted Mark Nunnikhoven, vice president of cloud research atTrend Micro. "While it may seem like the right thing to do, there's a profit motivation even in this," he told TechNewsWorld. "Ransomware criminals rely on their reputation of actually releasing the data in order to entice victims to pay," Nunnikhoven said. "If the gang behind TeslaCrypt left victims high and dry, any new campaigns they are associated with would be less likely to be profitable due to their previous reputation." Fear of law enforcement is another possible reason for releasing the master key, surmised Brad Cyprus, chief of security and compliance at Netsurion. "The group may be concerned that if they continue to develop the code, it is only a matter of time before law enforcement catches them," he told TechNewsWorld. "By turning in the decryption key," Cyprus continued, "they're hoping to fall lower on law enforcement's radar while other malware and ransomware projects will garner more attention, leaving the makers of TeslaCrypt to spend their ill-gotten gains."