International ransomware gangs are evolving their techniques. The next generation of hackers will target weaknesses in cryptocurrencies

The Dallas City Government was significantly disrupted by a ransomware attack in May 2023, leading to the closure of the Dallas Municipal Court Building and affecting wider police activities. Increasingly common, ransomware attacks encrypt vital data and demand a payment to decrypt the information. One recent survey revealed ransomware payments have almost doubled to $1.5m over the last year. With cybersecurity firm Sophos finding that the average ransomware payment rose from $812,000 in the previous year to $2.1m for UK organisations in 2023.