How bitcoin is driving the ransomware boom in the U.S.

The U.S. recently faced a series of ransomware attacks on critical infrastructure such as the Colonial Pipeline, the city of Tulsa, and JBS, the world's largest meat producer. Ransomware, a program that hackers use to hold digital information hostage, has become the top choice of malware for criminals. In 2020, the total amount of ransom paid by victims reached nearly $350 million worth of cryptocurrency. So what led to the rise of ransomware in the U.S., and what makes it so difficult to fight?