Ransomware has been a prominent threat to enterprises, SMBs, and individuals alike since the mid-2000s. In 2017, the FBIs Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 1,783 ransomware complaints that cost victims over $2.3 million. In this article, we examine the history of ransomware from its first documented attack in 1989 to the present day. We discuss in detail some of the most significant ransomware attacks and variants. Finally, we take a look at where ransomware is headed in 2018 and beyond.”]