If you pay a hacker’s ransom, chances are that they’ll come back for more

Proofpoint News Feed

July 22, 2026 at 4:14 PM

Overview

A recent study indicates that paying ransom to hackers might lead to repeated attacks. Researchers found that organizations which comply with ransom demands often face additional ransom requests in the future. This trend is concerning as it suggests that paying does not guarantee the return of stolen data or a cessation of attacks. Instead, it may encourage further exploitation by the same attackers. Organizations are urged to avoid paying ransoms and to improve their cybersecurity measures to prevent breaches in the first place.

Key Takeaways

Affected Systems: Organizations targeted by ransomware attacks
Action Required: Avoid paying ransoms; enhance cybersecurity measures.
Timeline: Newly disclosed

Impact

Organizations targeted by ransomware attacks

Exploitation Status

The exploitation status is currently unknown. Monitor vendor advisories and security bulletins for updates.

Timeline

Newly disclosed

Remediation

Avoid paying ransoms; enhance cybersecurity measures

Additional Information

This threat intelligence is aggregated from trusted cybersecurity sources. For the most up-to-date information, technical details, and official vendor guidance, please refer to the original article linked below.

Related Topics: This incident relates to Ransomware, Data Breach.

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