Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center attacked by hackers preferred to pay ransom to get its system restored asap. Bitcoin ransomware attacks worldwide are growing in scale and number.

As stated by the Medical Center's head Allen Stefanek, the company decided to pay the money “in the best interest of restoring normal operations,” as it was “the quickest and most efficient way” to revive the systems and administrative functions.
The payment equalled 40 bitcoins, which is about $17,000. The case is being investigated by FBI.
Earlier, New Jersey schools were attacked by hackers demanding as much as 500 bitcoins.
Bitcoin extorters from Armada Collective attacked Greek banks seeking to get a ransom of 50 bitcoins last autumn.
After the kidnapping of the Hong Kong oil tycoon Wong Yuk-Kwan whose abductors also wanted the ransom to be paid in digital currency, bitcoin was about to get banned in Taiwan, though later the decision was rejected by the country's officials.
In Russia, fake messages about bombs “planted” in the Gallery mall and Piterland Aquapark in Saint Petersburg were sent around by crypto criminals demanding $60,000 in bitcoins in order to prevent “the attack”.
November 2015 saw a number of New Zealand's citizens receiving e-mails that threatened their life and safety urging them to pay $1,500 in bitcoin. The New Zealand Police reacted immediately and published a notification calling those who felt unsafe to address the nearest police station.

Maria Rudina