Over 200 Japanese firms have paid ransomware attackers; 60% fail to recover data

A January survey by the Japan Institute for Promotion of Digital Economy and Community found 507 of 1,107 responding Japanese firms reported ransomware attacks; at least 222 paid ransoms but about 60% of those who paid still failed to recover their data (83 recovered, 139 did not), while 141 recovered without paying. The report underscores that paying ransoms does not guarantee data recovery and that ransoms fund criminal organizations.