Analysts and researchers agree that 2016 is the year when ransomware went really big. Cyber-crooks didn’t need much time to see the potential value of cryptolockers, and they readily added ransomware to their arsenals.

To give you an idea of the profitability, Cisco researchers reported in 2015 that a single Angler exploit kit brings cyber-criminals profits of up to $60 million annually, or on average $5 million every month! Hackers recently started focusing more attention on enterprises and organizations in possession of valuable data: Lately, a number of US hospitals became victims of ransomware attacks.

Microsoft has released an alert warning about a new ransomware variant called ZCryptor, which comes with the ability to self-propagate via removable and network drives. Microsoft 's security team took note of the new wave of infections.

“We are alerting Windows users of a new type of ransomware that exhibits worm-like behavior,” Microsoft's Malware Protection Center alert reads. “This ransom leverages removable and network drives to propagate itself and affect more users.” The company says that crooks use fake installers, along with macro-based booby-trapped Office files to distribute the Zcryptor ransomware.