Inside Ransomware Negotiations: Trust Criminals or Walk Away?

What happens when you're face-to-face with a ransomware gang demanding millions—and every decision could determine whether your company survives? Jeremy D. Brown, Consulting Director at Palo Alto Networks Unit 42 with nearly seven years negotiating with cyber criminals, reveals the hidden world of ransomware negotiations. With hundreds of negotiations under his belt, Jeremy knows which groups honor their promises, which ones to never pay, and exactly what mistakes can cost you everything. You'll learn: - Why contacting a threat actor doesn't mean you have to pay (the #1 misconception that paralyzes victims) - How to extract critical forensic intelligence from attackers during initial contact - The fatal mistakes organizations make that destroy their negotiation leverage - Which ransomware groups are sanctioned entities that will land you in legal trouble if you pay - Why being polite to criminals actually gets you better outcomes than hostility Jeremy has negotiated with everyone from aggressive groups who email your executives to methodical operators following strict playbooks. He's seen organizations with backups walk away and others pay millions for decryption keys. Managing over 100 incidents, Jeremy has tracked how double extortion evolved from rare to standard practice, and now watches single extortion (data theft without encryption) surge again. This episode is essential for CISOs who need a negotiation plan before the crisis hits, incident responders building their skillset, and executives who must understand that ransomware response is about far more than just paying or not paying. #IncidentResponse #Ransomware Related Episodes: - Mastering the Basics: Cyber Hygiene and Risk Management - Crisis in the Kitchen About Threat Vector Threat Vector by Palo Alto Networks is your premier podcast for security thought leadership. Join us as we explore pressing cybersecurity threats, robust protection strategies, and the latest industry trends. The podcast features in-depth discussions with industry leaders, Palo Alto Networks experts, and customers, providing crucial insights for security decision-makers. Whether you're looking to stay ahead of the curve with innovative solutions or understand the evolving cybersecurity landscape, Threat Vector equips you with the knowledge needed to safeguard your organization. Palo Alto Networks Palo Alto Networks enables your team to prevent successful cyberattacks with an automated approach that delivers consistent security across the cloud, network, and mobile.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠http://paloaltonetworks.com.⁠