New laptop wont have old files...
Actually people use for long time the cloud storages for private files.
It's hard to believe for me, that a private user have any precious info as files.
The companies need to cure about the security of files.
It's hard for me to believe that there is a single person that doesn't have at least one important piece of info as file... Think again, if you're here you very likely have at least one precious info as a file.
I think, maybe demand will go down for a few days or may also increase.
...
Don't even know what to say.
I think it is mostly Windows XP computers that are at risk.
Unfortunately, like the cash machines we use at banks, many old systems run NT and XP.
I dont think anyone would risk paying this damned virus because it doesnt have your secret key in ESCROW to guarantee data release.
In other words, you are paying for nothing, most likely.
so no, I doubt it will have an effect on Bitcoin price.
But it will make anyone who is interested in bitcoin have a bad reputation in some peoples eyes.
This is imprecise, even computer up to Windows 10 are vulnerable unless updated, just like any non-updated XP machine.
Pretty curious that they didn't target cash machines, now that I come to think of it...
About payments, think again. Last time I checked they already had 20+ BTC.