Cybercriminal gangs are attacking large markets with rich customers. Cybercrime gangs offer a product that alleviates a specific pain point (the inability to run your business) Cybercriminals write their own code or buy ransomware as a service on the black market, often as part of a suite of other products. The most lucrative potential victims have a specific set of characteristics: They hold critical information and infrastructure, have immature and vulnerable security programs and the ability to pay the ransom. Last year there was a reported loss of more than $24 million as a result of ransomware attacks.”]
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2016/04/11/ransomware-lucrative-fast-growing-hard-to-stop.html