Ransomware Payment Rate Declines Amid Rising Attacks
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The percentage of ransomware victims paying threat actors dropped to 28% in 2025, the lowest recorded, despite a 50% increase in attacks. Total on-chain payments reached $820 million, with projections exceeding $900 million. Factors like improved incident response, regulatory scrutiny, and law enforcement actions contributed to the decline. The median ransom payment surged by 368%, indicating larger payouts from fewer victims. The number of active extortion groups rose to 85, with notable attacks on Jaguar Land Rover, Marks & Spencer, and DaVita Inc. The U.S. remained the most targeted country. The ransomware payment rate has been declining for four consecutive years, and the average price for network access declined from $1,427 in Q1 2023 to $439 in Q1 2026. Ransomware actors are extorting bigger payments from a smaller number of victims, and the median payment increased 368%, from $12,738 in 2024 to $59,556 in 2025. The US was the most heavily targeted country, followed by Canada, Germany, the UK, and other parts of Europe. Manufacturing and finance/professional services were the most heavily hit in most of these countries, although Canada and Germany had a high compromise rate in supply chains, logistics, and critical infrastructure.
Timeline
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26.02.2026 16:00 3 articles · 4d ago
Ransomware Payment Rate Drops to 28% in 2025
The percentage of ransomware victims paying threat actors dropped to 28% in 2025, the lowest recorded, despite a 50% increase in attacks. Total on-chain payments reached $820 million, with projections exceeding $900 million. The median ransom payment surged by 368%, indicating larger payouts from fewer victims. The number of active extortion groups rose to 85, with notable attacks on Jaguar Land Rover, Marks & Spencer, and DaVita Inc. The ransomware payment rate has been declining for four consecutive years, and the average price for network access declined from $1,427 in Q1 2023 to $439 in Q1 2026. Ransomware actors are extorting bigger payments from a smaller number of victims, and the median payment increased 368%, from $12,738 in 2024 to $59,556 in 2025. The US was the most heavily targeted country, followed by Canada, Germany, the UK, and other parts of Europe. Manufacturing and finance/professional services were the most heavily hit in most of these countries, although Canada and Germany had a high compromise rate in supply chains, logistics, and critical infrastructure.
Show sources
- Ransomware payment rate drops to record low as attacks surge — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 26.02.2026 16:00
- Ransomware payment rate drops to record low as attacks surge — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 26.02.2026 16:00
- Ransomware Payments Decline 8% as Attacks Surge 50% — www.infosecurity-magazine.com — 02.03.2026 12:45
Information Snippets
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Ransomware payment rate dropped to 28% in 2025, a four-year decline.
First reported: 26.02.2026 16:002 sources, 3 articlesShow sources
- Ransomware payment rate drops to record low as attacks surge — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 26.02.2026 16:00
- Ransomware payment rate drops to record low as attacks surge — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 26.02.2026 16:00
- Ransomware Payments Decline 8% as Attacks Surge 50% — www.infosecurity-magazine.com — 02.03.2026 12:45
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Total on-chain ransomware payments in 2025 reached $820 million, projected to exceed $900 million.
First reported: 26.02.2026 16:002 sources, 3 articlesShow sources
- Ransomware payment rate drops to record low as attacks surge — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 26.02.2026 16:00
- Ransomware payment rate drops to record low as attacks surge — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 26.02.2026 16:00
- Ransomware Payments Decline 8% as Attacks Surge 50% — www.infosecurity-magazine.com — 02.03.2026 12:45
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Ransomware attacks increased by 50% year-over-year.
First reported: 26.02.2026 16:002 sources, 3 articlesShow sources
- Ransomware payment rate drops to record low as attacks surge — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 26.02.2026 16:00
- Ransomware payment rate drops to record low as attacks surge — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 26.02.2026 16:00
- Ransomware Payments Decline 8% as Attacks Surge 50% — www.infosecurity-magazine.com — 02.03.2026 12:45
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Median ransom payment rose 368% from $12,738 in 2024 to $59,556 in 2025.
First reported: 26.02.2026 16:002 sources, 3 articlesShow sources
- Ransomware payment rate drops to record low as attacks surge — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 26.02.2026 16:00
- Ransomware payment rate drops to record low as attacks surge — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 26.02.2026 16:00
- Ransomware Payments Decline 8% as Attacks Surge 50% — www.infosecurity-magazine.com — 02.03.2026 12:45
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85 active extortion groups were observed in 2025, up from previous years.
First reported: 26.02.2026 16:002 sources, 3 articlesShow sources
- Ransomware payment rate drops to record low as attacks surge — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 26.02.2026 16:00
- Ransomware payment rate drops to record low as attacks surge — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 26.02.2026 16:00
- Ransomware Payments Decline 8% as Attacks Surge 50% — www.infosecurity-magazine.com — 02.03.2026 12:45
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Notable attacks included Jaguar Land Rover ($2.5 billion in damages), Marks & Spencer, and DaVita Inc. (2.7 million patient records exposed).
First reported: 26.02.2026 16:001 source, 2 articlesShow sources
- Ransomware payment rate drops to record low as attacks surge — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 26.02.2026 16:00
- Ransomware payment rate drops to record low as attacks surge — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 26.02.2026 16:00
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Initial access brokers (IABs) made $14 million in 2025, 1.7% of total ransomware revenue.
First reported: 26.02.2026 16:002 sources, 3 articlesShow sources
- Ransomware payment rate drops to record low as attacks surge — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 26.02.2026 16:00
- Ransomware payment rate drops to record low as attacks surge — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 26.02.2026 16:00
- Ransomware Payments Decline 8% as Attacks Surge 50% — www.infosecurity-magazine.com — 02.03.2026 12:45
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Average price for network access declined from $1,427 in Q1 2023 to $439 in Q1 2026.
First reported: 26.02.2026 16:001 source, 2 articlesShow sources
- Ransomware payment rate drops to record low as attacks surge — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 26.02.2026 16:00
- Ransomware payment rate drops to record low as attacks surge — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 26.02.2026 16:00
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The ransomware payment rate has been declining for four consecutive years.
First reported: 26.02.2026 16:001 source, 1 articleShow sources
- Ransomware payment rate drops to record low as attacks surge — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 26.02.2026 16:00
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The most targeted countries were the United States, Canada, Germany, and the U.K.
First reported: 26.02.2026 16:002 sources, 2 articlesShow sources
- Ransomware payment rate drops to record low as attacks surge — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 26.02.2026 16:00
- Ransomware Payments Decline 8% as Attacks Surge 50% — www.infosecurity-magazine.com — 02.03.2026 12:45
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Spikes in IAB payment inflows are followed by increases in ransomware payments and victim leak posts roughly 30 days later.
First reported: 26.02.2026 16:001 source, 1 articleShow sources
- Ransomware payment rate drops to record low as attacks surge — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 26.02.2026 16:00
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The average price for network access declined from $1,427 in Q1 2023 to $439 in Q1 2026 due to automation, AI-assisted tooling, and oversupply from info-stealer logs.
First reported: 26.02.2026 16:001 source, 1 articleShow sources
- Ransomware payment rate drops to record low as attacks surge — www.bleepingcomputer.com — 26.02.2026 16:00
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Ransomware payment rates dropped from 63% in 2024 to 29% in 2025.
First reported: 02.03.2026 12:451 source, 1 articleShow sources
- Ransomware Payments Decline 8% as Attacks Surge 50% — www.infosecurity-magazine.com — 02.03.2026 12:45
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Ransomware actors are extorting bigger payments from a smaller number of victims.
First reported: 02.03.2026 12:451 source, 1 articleShow sources
- Ransomware Payments Decline 8% as Attacks Surge 50% — www.infosecurity-magazine.com — 02.03.2026 12:45
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The median payment increased 368%, from $12,738 in 2024 to $59,556 in 2025.
First reported: 02.03.2026 12:451 source, 1 articleShow sources
- Ransomware Payments Decline 8% as Attacks Surge 50% — www.infosecurity-magazine.com — 02.03.2026 12:45
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Ransomware actors remain highly opportunistic, exploiting exposed services and misconfigurations as they arise.
First reported: 02.03.2026 12:451 source, 1 articleShow sources
- Ransomware Payments Decline 8% as Attacks Surge 50% — www.infosecurity-magazine.com — 02.03.2026 12:45
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The US was the most heavily targeted country last year, followed by Canada, Germany, the UK, and other parts of Europe.
First reported: 02.03.2026 12:451 source, 1 articleShow sources
- Ransomware Payments Decline 8% as Attacks Surge 50% — www.infosecurity-magazine.com — 02.03.2026 12:45
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Manufacturing and finance/professional services were the most heavily hit in most of these countries.
First reported: 02.03.2026 12:451 source, 1 articleShow sources
- Ransomware Payments Decline 8% as Attacks Surge 50% — www.infosecurity-magazine.com — 02.03.2026 12:45
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Canada and Germany had a high compromise rate in supply chains, logistics, and critical infrastructure.
First reported: 02.03.2026 12:451 source, 1 articleShow sources
- Ransomware Payments Decline 8% as Attacks Surge 50% — www.infosecurity-magazine.com — 02.03.2026 12:45
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Payments to initial access brokers (IABs) remained relatively flat from 2024, at $14m, but historically high.
First reported: 02.03.2026 12:451 source, 1 articleShow sources
- Ransomware Payments Decline 8% as Attacks Surge 50% — www.infosecurity-magazine.com — 02.03.2026 12:45
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Infrastructure such as bulletproof hosting, residential proxy networks, and malware loaders is now used by financially motivated cybercrime groups as well as state-linked threat actors.
First reported: 02.03.2026 12:451 source, 1 articleShow sources
- Ransomware Payments Decline 8% as Attacks Surge 50% — www.infosecurity-magazine.com — 02.03.2026 12:45
Similar Happenings
Ransomware Victims and Groups Reach Record Highs in 2025
In 2025, ransomware victims listed on extortion sites surged by 30% annually, reaching 7458. The number of active ransomware groups also hit a new high of 124, with 73 new groups identified. AI is lowering the barrier to entry for new threat groups, aiding in social engineering, data analysis, and ransomware negotiations. Despite the increase in victims, ransom payments fell by 35% in 2024, and this trend is likely to have continued in 2025. The ransomware ecosystem remains professionalized and effective, with large syndicates fracturing into smaller, agile cells, making the threat landscape more complex.
Ransomware Evolution in 2025: Psychological Extortion and Targeted Attacks
In 2025, ransomware operations evolved significantly, shifting from mere file encryption to sophisticated extortion campaigns that leverage stolen data, legal liability, and psychological pressure. The decentralization of ransomware groups, combined with collaborative tactics, has made attribution and disruption more challenging. Threat actors now target SMBs in high-regulation regions, exploiting regulatory frameworks to amplify the impact of data leaks. The psychological manipulation in ransom notes has become more sophisticated, using tactics such as perceived omniscience, artificial time pressure, and legal fear to coerce victims into paying ransoms.
Ransomware Activity Trends and Victim Statistics in 2025
Ransomware activity in 2025 saw a significant increase in reported victims compared to previous years, with 7,902 victims listed by Ransomware.live. Traditional ransomware syndicates remained active, alongside less organized groups like Scattered Spider, Lapsus$, and ShinyHunters. Qilin emerged as the most prolific group, claiming 1,001 victims, followed by Akira and Clop. The manufacturing, technology, and healthcare sectors were the most targeted industries. US victims accounted for half of the total reported incidents.
Ransomware extortion totals $2.1B from 2022 to 2024, FinCEN reports
FinCEN's report reveals that ransomware gangs extorted over $2.1 billion from 2022 to 2024, with a peak in 2023 followed by a decline in 2024 due to law enforcement actions against major gangs like ALPHV/BlackCat and LockBit. The report details 4,194 ransomware incidents, with manufacturing, financial services, and healthcare being the most targeted industries. The top ransomware families, including Akira, ALPHV/BlackCat, and LockBit, were responsible for the majority of attacks and ransom payments, with Bitcoin being the primary payment method.
Ransomware payment rates decline to 23% in Q3 2025
Ransomware payment rates have dropped to 23% in Q3 2025, a new low. This decline is attributed to improved defenses and increased pressure from authorities not to pay. Ransomware groups are adapting by targeting medium-sized firms and focusing on data exfiltration. The average and median ransom payments also decreased to $377,000 and $140,000, respectively. The shift in payment rates and tactics reflects a broader trend of organizations strengthening their defenses and recognizing the value of investing in cybersecurity rather than paying ransoms. This trend is expected to continue as ransomware groups seek more profitable targets.