Pay up or not? Ransomware surge has victims facing tough choices.

A 2025 Sophos-backed report cited by the article finds nearly half of ransomware victims pay ransoms and that median demands are increasing; governments are responding in some regions by proposing bans on ransom payments. The piece characterizes ransomware groups as increasingly sophisticated, corporate-style operations targeting mainly SMEs, and highlights legal and sanction risks associated with paying attackers.