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 type of extortion software – is now widely recognized as one of the biggest business risks, not just for large corporations but also for German SMEs. In 2025, according to the German Interior Ministry, there were 1,041 reported ransomware attacks, a 10% increase from the previous year. During a ransomware attack, criminals encrypt entire IT systems and demand ransom payments, typically in the form of Bitcoin, often accompanied by the threat to publish previously stolen data.
So, how can businesses defend themselves against such attacks? How can they regain control in this situation? And which errors are particularly costly in the first few hours? These questions are answered in an interview with crisis negotiators Michael Sjøberg, formerly specialized in hostage situations within the Danish military, and Peter Skovbo, who leads the crisis management consultancy Delta Crisis in Switzerland. Mr. Sjøberg, when a company calls you during a cyberattack, what is typically already gone wrong?
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- Ransomware: "The worst mistake is a CEO who asks: How do I pay?" handelsblatt.com
