Financial Losses: Ransom payments and associated costs can be crippling. In some cases, victims pay ransoms but do not receive decryption keys, resulting in unrecoverable losses. Data Exposure: Exfiltrated data can be sold on the dark web or used for further cyberattacks, leading to potential identity theft, fraud, or extortion Operational Disruption: Businesses and organizations face significant disruptions, downtime, and reputational damage, affecting productivity and customer trust. Legal and Regulatory Implications: Ransomware attacks often involve data breaches, triggering legal and regulatory obligations, as well as potential fines. Health and Safety Risks: In sectors like healthcare and critical infrastructure, ransomware attacks can have direct health and safety implications for patients and the public. Mitigating the Threat Mitigating the threat of ransomware requires a multi-faceted approach that combines technology, education, and preparedness: Backup and Recov
