PAYING RANSOMS INVITES REPEAT ATTACKS

The consensus among network defenders is clear: paying ransoms perpetuates the problem. Hackers operating extortion schemes have no reason to walk away after receiving payment, and victims who comply become known quantities—organizations willing to pay. This creates a direct incentive for attackers to return. Once a company demonstrates it will negotiate and transfer funds, it becomes a profitable target for future campaigns by the same actors or others who learn of its willingness to pay. Security professionals stress that good-faith negotiation with criminal enterprises is fundamentally flawed. The dynamic is asymmetrical: victims want a one-time resolution, while attackers benefit from establishing repeat victims. Organizations are increasingly advised to refuse ransom demands, strengthen defensive postures, and rely on incident response protocols and insurance instead. Law enforcement also discourages payments, citing how ransom flows fund further criminal operations.