UK Ransomware Payments Soar, Victims Lag Behind Global Trends
▼ Summary
– British organizations experience higher data encryption rates (70%) in ransomware attacks compared to the global average (50%), per Sophos’ 2025 report.
– The median UK ransom demand surged to $5.4m, more than double the 2024 figure, with 89% of demands exceeding $1m.
– UK firms paid 103% of ransom demands on average, significantly above the global rate (85%), likely due to frequent data encryption.
– UK organizations recover faster (59% within a week vs. 38% in 2024), though it’s unclear if paying ransoms contributed to this improvement.
– A forthcoming UK bill may ban ransom payments for critical infrastructure and mandate reporting, prompting a shift in ransomware response strategies.
Ransomware attacks in the UK have reached alarming levels, with businesses facing higher encryption rates and steeper demands than their international counterparts. A recent study reveals that 70% of British organizations hit by ransomware had their data encrypted, significantly outpacing the global average of 50%. The findings highlight a troubling trend where UK victims not only experience more severe breaches but also pay significantly more to recover their systems.
The median ransom demand in the UK surged to $5.4 million, more than double the previous year’s figure. Even more concerning, British firms paid an average of 103% of the initial demand, far exceeding the global rate of 85%. This willingness to meet attackers’ terms contrasts sharply with worldwide trends, where ransomware payments dropped by 35% in 2024. Experts suggest that as cybercriminals see declining revenues, they’re increasing demands on high-value targets.
Exploited vulnerabilities (36%), phishing emails (20%), and stolen credentials (19%) remain the most common entry points for ransomware attacks. Once inside, hackers often encrypt critical data, leaving businesses with few options but to pay. The financial impact extends beyond ransoms, recovery costs averaged $2.6 million per incident, factoring in downtime, labor, and lost opportunities.
Despite these challenges, there’s a silver lining: UK organizations are recovering faster than before. Nearly 60% restored operations within a week, a notable improvement from 38% the previous year. While paying ransoms may contribute to quicker recoveries, it doesn’t eliminate risks like data theft. Surprisingly, only 26% of encrypted breaches involved stolen data, down from 49% in prior reports.
The landscape may soon shift with the upcoming Cyber Security and Resilience Bill, which could prohibit critical infrastructure firms from paying ransoms and mandate stricter reporting. Until then, experts recommend prioritizing proactive defenses, including patch management, employee training, and multi-factor authentication, to reduce exposure to ransomware threats.
The stakes are higher than ever, and UK businesses must reassess their cybersecurity strategies to avoid becoming the next victim in this escalating crisis.
(Source: InfoSecurity)
