Ransomware: „Der schlimmste Fehler ist ein CEO, der fragt: Wie zahle ich?“
Cyber-Attacken legen ganze Produktionen lahm und treffen zunehmend auch den Mittelstand. Zwei Experten erklären, wie Firmen mit Erpressern verhandeln sollten – und sich besser schützen können.
Zug, ransomware – a form of extortion software – is now recognized as one of the biggest business risks, not only for large corporations but also for German small and medium-sized enterprises. In 2025, the German Interior Ministry reported 1,041 ransomware attacks, a ten percent increase from the previous year. In a ransomware attack, criminals encrypt entire IT systems and demand ransom payments, usually in Bitcoin and often accompanied by the threat of releasing previously stolen data.
So, how can businesses defend themselves? How can they regain control in such a situation? And which mistakes are particularly costly in the first hours? These questions are answered in an interview with crisis negotiators Michael Sjøberg, a former Danish military expert specializing in hostage situations, and Peter Skovbo, who leads the Switzerland-based consulting firm Delta Crisis, which was founded by Sjøberg.
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