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

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ransomware

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

Security researchers observe that paying ransoms to attackers creates perverse incentives, as threat actors have no genuine reason to cease targeting an organization once payment is made. The dynamic mirrors traditional extortion, where capitulation signals vulnerability rather than resolution.

Why it matters: Organizations deciding on ransom payment should understand that compliance often triggers repeat targeting and additional demands from the same actors, making it a poor long-term strategy for protecting critical systems and data.

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