Pay up or not? Ransomware surge has victims facing tough choices
Summary
This article discusses the growing ransomware crisis and the policy debate over paying ransoms. It cites 2025 Sophos data showing about half of victims pay and highlights government moves, including UK plans to ban payouts for public sector and critical infrastructure. It also presents expert opinions on the effectiveness and consequences of such bans, the role of AI-powered attacks, and the importance of exposure management and robust defenses for organizations, especially SMBs.