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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Technology
Dan Milmo

MYSTERIOUS: Ransomware payments nearly double in one year - You Need To See This

Sophos United Kingdom Cybersecurity
In this photo illustration, the representation of a ransomware is displayed on a smartphone screen with a Twitter logo in the background.
More than a quarter of the companies that made payments in the global survey handed over between $1m and $5m. Photograph: Rafael Henrique/Sopa Images/Shutterstock

Ransomware payments have nearly doubled to $1.5m (£1.2m) over the past year, with the highest-earning organisations the most likely to pay attackers, according to a survey.

Sophos, a British cybersecurity firm, found that the average ransomware payment rose from $812,000 the previous year. The average payment by UK organisations in 2023 was even higher than the global average, at $2.1m.

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