80% of firms that experienced a ransomware attack have paid up, says research - generating millions of dollars of easy cash for criminals

Neon letters spelling RANSOMWARE set against a dark background with red and blue circuitry.

• Eight in ten ransomware victims reported paying, yet recovery remained uncertain
• Cyber criminals now target executive emails and contracts for leverage
• Over half of companies reported attacks tied to AI vulnerabilities

New research has claimed smaller firms continue to face threats in the digital space, with ransomware attacks in particular hitting hard.