The story was no doubt based on earlier real-life examples of "Ransomware" like this one: http://www.infoworld.com/t/malware/ransomware-returns-if-you...

That's the first thing I thought of, too. This is just about exactly the model of the Reamde crew.

Which means the Islamic terrorists coincidentally live upstairs (which I believe is one of the stupidest coincidences of any book I have read and enjoyed.)

da G shou