Pay up or not? Ransomware surge has victims facing tough choices
Ransomware attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and frequent, with victims facing difficult decisions regarding whether to pay hackers. Governments, including the UK, are considering bans on ransom payments to curb the growth of this cyber-criminal ecosystem.
Why it matters
The rise of AI-powered hacking tools has drastically increased the threat level for businesses, necessitating a reevaluation of cybersecurity policy and legal frameworks.
dilemma Pay up or not? Ransomware surge has victims facing tough choices Governments look at banning ransom payments in face of increasingly sophisticated threats.
8 Credit: Suebsiri Srithanyarat / EyeEm / Getty Images Credit: Suebsiri Srithanyarat / EyeEm / Getty Images Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav Nearly half of companies that are targets of a ransomware cyber attack end up paying a ransom to release their data or systems, according to 2025 research from cyber security group Sophos, while the median amount demanded is rising.
Globally, some jurisdictions are responding by banning payments to hackers. In the UK, for example, the government is advancing plans to prohibit public sector bodies and critical national infrastructure groups—including the National Health Service, local councils and schools—from making payouts.
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