Pay up or not? Ransomware surge has victims facing tough choices
Summary
Nearly half of companies hit by ransomware attacks pay the hackers to regain control of their data, according to recent research. While some governments, like the UK, plan to ban such payments for public services, experts warn that paying ransoms does not guarantee data recovery and can encourage more attacks.Key Facts
- Around 50% of ransomware victims pay the demanded ransom to unlock their data or systems.
- The average ransom amount is increasing over time.
- Some governments, including the UK, want to ban ransom payments by public sector and critical infrastructure groups.
- Ransomware gangs have become more organized and use advanced AI tools to perform more attacks faster.
- Confirmed ransomware cases increased nearly 4 times from 2024 to 2025 globally.
- Paying ransoms can lead to further extortion since criminals may not delete stolen data.
- Experts disagree on bans; some say bans risk more harm when data recovery is impossible without payment.
- Cyber insurers may raise costs if ransom payments are banned for critical infrastructure sectors.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
