Ransomware’s Never-Ending Comedy: Attack Numbers Soar, Payoffs Plummet!
Ransomware attacks are on the rise, with 2025 seeing a 126% spike in reported incidents, according to Check Point. Despite this surge, the good news is more victims are refusing to pay. So, while the ransomware world is buzzing, payoffs are dwindling, leaving hackers to wonder if they’ve hit a digital dead end.
Hot Take:
Looks like playing the “ransomware game” is becoming as popular as playing tag—except this digital version involves less running and more jail time. While Rami Khaled Ahmed’s alleged antics make him the new poster child for cybercrime, it’s clear that the ransomware underworld is as bustling as a Black Friday sale! Ransomware artists everywhere, take note: with law enforcement hot on your trail, it might be time to consider a career change—perhaps something that doesn’t involve a maximum five-year sentence for each charge?
Key Points:
- Rami Khaled Ahmed has been charged for deploying Black Kingdom ransomware targeting U.S. entities.
- The ransomware exploited the ProxyLogon vulnerability in Microsoft Exchange Server.
- Victims were instructed to pay $10,000 in Bitcoin, affecting about 1,500 systems globally.
- The U.S. Department of Justice has ramped up charges against multiple cybercriminals recently.
- Ransomware incidents are on the rise, but fewer victims are paying ransoms.