Proofpoint: Over Half of Ransomware Victims Pay Ransoms
A Proofpoint report indicates 54% of ransomware victims choose to pay ransoms, despite warnings from authorities. Over a third of those who pay are subsequently re-targeted for extortion.
A new report by security firm Proofpoint reveals that a majority of ransomware attack victims, specifically 54%, opt to pay the demanded ransoms to attackers.
The findings, based on a global survey of nearly 1,000 cybersecurity professionals across 12 markets, highlight a significant disconnect with repeated warnings from law enforcement and the cybersecurity industry against paying ransoms.
Despite payments, success is not guaranteed. Nearly 40% (37%) of organizations that pay the ransom are subsequently subjected to further extortion by the attackers. Additionally, 2% of victims failed to recover their encrypted files even after payment.
Proofpoint suggests that while the pressure of business disruption can be immense, paying ransoms fuels criminal enterprises and offers no assurance of data recovery. The firm recommends organizations prioritize proactive measures, including employee training, regular offline backups, and comprehensive, preferably AI-driven, security infrastructure.