--- title: "Ransom Money was returned to the Dutch University with Proper Interest" description: "A Dutch university fell victim to an enormous ransomware attack has recovered partially the stolen money, meantime it got more than doubled in actual" author: "Siddhi Shaw" published: 2022-07-03 canonical: https://www.mindstick.com/news/1711/ransom-money-was-returned-to-the-dutch-university-with-proper-interest category: "technology" tags: ["technology", "software", "hackers", "cyber attackers"] reading_time: 2 minutes --- # Ransom Money was returned to the Dutch University with Proper Interest A Dutch university that fell victim to an enormous ransomware attack has now recovered partially the stolen money...in the meantime it got more than doubled in actual value, as per the [news](https://www.mindstick.com/developersection/news) report of **Saturday**. ``` HIGHLIGHTSMaastricht University was under a cyberattack in 2019 Hackers demanded EUR 200,000 in Bitcoins The ransom money was returned back but after two years it got more than doubled. ``` Also Read: [Tesla Recalls 26,681 US Vehicles Over Windshield Defrosting Software](https://www.mindstick.com/news/1384/tesla-recalls-26-681-us-vehicles-over-windshield-defrosting-software) The southern **Maastricht University** in 2019 was hit by a huge [cyberattack](https://www.mindstick.com/news/1650/fbi-director-claims-iran-russia-and-china-to-be-the-sponsored-nations-for-global-cyberattacks) during which criminals had used ransomware, a kind of malicious [software](https://www.mindstick.com/news/1498/germany-says-russian-anti-virus-software-use-is-a-threat) that actually locks valuable information and may solely be accessed once the victim pays a ransom amount for it. '**The criminals had encrypted hundreds of Windows servers and backup systems, preventing 25,000 students and employees from [getting access](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/109275/how-can-i-resolve-err_ssl_protocol_error-whilst-getting-access-to-stable-web-sites-on-my-browser) to the scientific information, library and mail**,' the daily **De Volkskrant** stated. The hackers have demanded around **EUR 200,000** (roughly Rs.1.6 crores) in Bitcoins. ![Ransom Money was returned to the Dutch University with Proper Interest](https://www.mindstick.com/usernews/645947/1d5b413b-c8e6-4b34-a6a4-f30fde9b3918/images/6a04df06-0d68-42be-b9b0-b567db20c0e9.jpeg)\ According to the same paper, “**Almost after one week the university decides to accede to the criminal gang's demand**.” It even mentioned that this was partly because the [personal information](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/102585/how-to-secure-personal-information-on-a-laptop) was in danger of being lost and students would unable to take an exam or even work on their theses, if something like this would happen. Dutch police had traced a part of the ransom which was paid to an account that actually belonged to a money launderer in [Ukraine](https://www.mindstick.com/news/1445/ukraine-cyberattack-receiving-the-cyber-expert-team-from-eu-as-a-help). Prosecutors in 2020 have taken over or seized this man's account that contained variety of various cryptocurrencies as well as a part of the ransom money paid by Maastricht. '**When, currently after more than 2 years, it was possible to induce that money to the Netherlands finally, well, the worth of that money had increased from** **40,000 euros to half-a-[million euros](https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/38510/name-the-european-bank-the-world-s-largest-multilateral-public-bank-which-recently-announced-to-invest-33-billion-rupees-450-million-euros-for-the-first-metro-line-in-lucknow)**,' the paper said. Currently, Maastricht University will be getting around **EUR 500,000** (roughly Rs. 4.1 crores) back. **Michiel Borgers**, the **Maastricht University ICT director** has said '**This money will not move to a general fund, however, it will go into a fund that would help financially strapped students**.” The investigation into the [hackers](https://www.mindstick.com/news/866/how-hackers-access-your-iphone-without-your-knowledge) who were responsible for the attack on the university is till ongoing, **De Volkskranthas** added. Also Read: [Does Ukraine Cyberattack involve Russia as an attacker?](https://www.mindstick.com/news/1415/does-ukraine-cyberattack-involve-russia-as-an-attacker) --- Original Source: https://www.mindstick.com/news/1711/ransom-money-was-returned-to-the-dutch-university-with-proper-interest Copyright © MindStick Software Pvt. Ltd. This Markdown version is provided for developers, AI systems, and offline reading.