Ransomware Shuts Down 158-Year-Old UK Logistics Firm

A 158-year-old Northamptonshire logistics firm, KNP, collapsed after attackers guessed a weak password, deployed ransomware, and—despite a ransom payment—refused to restore encrypted systems, triggering operational failure, administration, and roughly 700 job losses; a retailer later acquired select assets. The case underscores how ransomware and poor password security can produce existential business risk and overwhelming recovery costs.