New York Times, BBC and others inadvertently serve up dangerous ads - CNET

Ransomware hacks scramble computer files with an unbreakable code and won't release them until a ransom is paid. Computers ruing Microsoft Windows software have been frequent targets of ransomware, and earlier this week researchers reported what appeared to be the first ransomware targeting Macs.

A handful of high-profile cases over the past month involved hospitals and critical computer files. Once computer files are seized, the FBI says, there's little to do other than pay up.

"Ransomware is not a new technique by any means for cybercriminals, but they are increasing their leverage and sophistication by shifting to high stake targets," Peter Tran, senior director of security company RSA, said in a statement. "Data is king and it's serious business to the ransomware cybercriminals"

The attack on the media sites was delivered through multiple ad networks, and it targeted security holes in out-of-date versions of Silverlight, Flash and other software, according to the researchers.