The document discusses the threat of ransomware and how it works. Ransomware encrypts systems and demands payment, often in bitcoin, to regain access. Victims may pay but not always get their systems back. Ransomware attacks are difficult to locate and prosecute as they often originate outside the US. Experts expect ransomware and other cyber threats targeting smartphones and cloud storage to increase in 2017. Hackers could target devices of government agents to lock them or extract information. Many data breaches in 2016 compromised personal and proprietary information from companies and governments through unknown hacking methods.