Email Us

Tag: encryption

Ransomware 2025: How Cybercriminals Turn Encryption into Multi-Million Dollar Extortion

Mike Fitzpatrick March 4, 2025 No Comments

How ransomware tactics have advanced, the devastating impact on businesses, and actionable strategies to defend against these threats.

Read: Ransomware 2025: How Cybercriminals…

About NCX

NCX Group is an independent cyber risk and resilience advisory firm with over two decades of experience supporting business leaders, boards, and deal teams when risk affects value, operations, and decision-making.

Advisory & Risk

Risk & Readiness

Company

button,hr,input{overflow:visible}progress,sub,sup{vertical-align:baseline}[type=checkbox],[type=radio],legend{box-sizing:border-box;padding:0}html{scroll-behavior:smooth;line-height:1.4;-webkit-text-size-adjust:100%}*,::after,::before{box-sizing:border-box}body{background-color:#fff;font-family:system-ui,-apple-system,"Segoe UI",Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,"Apple Color Emoji","Segoe UI Emoji";margin:0}/*! normalize.css v8.0.1 | MIT License | github.com/necolas/normalize.css */h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6{line-height:1.2}details,main{display:block}h1{font-size:2em;margin:.67em 0}hr{box-sizing:content-box;height:0}code,kbd,pre,samp{font-family:monospace,monospace;font-size:1em}a{background-color:transparent}abbr[title]{border-bottom:none;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline dotted}b,strong{font-weight:bolder}small{font-size:80%}sub,sup{font-size:75%;line-height:0;position:relative}sub{bottom:-.25em}sup{top:-.5em}img{display:inline-block;max-inline-size:100%;block-size:auto;vertical-align:middle;border-style:none}button,input,optgroup,select,textarea{font-family:inherit;font-size:100%;line-height:1.15;margin:0}button,select{text-transform:none}[type=button],[type=reset],[type=submit],button{-webkit-appearance:button}[type=button]::-moz-focus-inner,[type=reset]::-moz-focus-inner,[type=submit]::-moz-focus-inner,button::-moz-focus-inner{border-style:none;padding:0}[type=button]:-moz-focusring,[type=reset]:-moz-focusring,[type=submit]:-moz-focusring,button:-moz-focusring{outline:ButtonText dotted 1px}fieldset{padding:.35em .75em .625em}legend{color:inherit;display:table;max-width:100%;white-space:normal}textarea{overflow:auto}[type=number]::-webkit-inner-spin-button,[type=number]::-webkit-outer-spin-button{height:auto}[type=search]{-webkit-appearance:textfield;outline-offset:-2px}[type=search]::-webkit-search-decoration{-webkit-appearance:none}::-webkit-file-upload-button{-webkit-appearance:button;font:inherit}summary{display:list-item}[hidden],template{display:none}.bde-skip-link,.oxy-skip-link{position:absolute;top:var(--bde-skip-link-top,10px);left:var(--bde-skip-link-left,10px);width:1px;height:1px;border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);overflow:hidden;word-wrap:normal}.bde-skip-link:focus,.oxy-skip-link:focus{display:block;z-index:100000;width:auto;height:auto;padding:15px 20px;background:var(--bde-skip-link-background-color,#fff);color:var(--bde-skip-link-text-color,var(--bde-headings-color,#000));font-size:1em;font-weight:700;text-decoration:none;clip:auto;box-shadow:0 0 4px 2px rgb(0 0 0 / 40%);border-radius:10px}.bde-skip-link:hover,.oxy-skip-link:hover{background:var(--bde-skip-link-background-color-hover,var(--bde-skip-link-background-color,#fff))} /* Grid Layout */ .bde-loop { --bde-posts-per-row: 1; --bde-posts-gap: 20px; display: grid; grid-template-columns: repeat(var(--bde-posts-per-row), minmax(0, 1fr)); gap: var(--bde-posts-gap); grid-auto-rows: auto; } .bde-loop-item { display: flex; flex-direction: column; gap: 20px; padding: 20px; } /* List Layout */ .bde-loop-list { --bde-posts-per-row: 1; } /* Slider Layout */ .bde-loop-slider { --bde-posts-gap: 0px; display: flex; flex-wrap: nowrap !important; } /* Accordion Layout */ .bde-loop-accordion .bde-loop-item { width: 100%; } .bde-loop-accordion .bde-accordion__panel-content { padding: 0; } /* Isotope Layout */ .bde-loop-isotope { --bde-posts-isotope-width: calc(100% / var(--bde-posts-per-row)); --bde-posts-isotope-width-diff: calc( var(--bde-posts-gap) - (var(--bde-posts-gap) / var(--bde-posts-per-row)) ); display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; width: 100%; } .bde-loop-isotope > .bde-loop-item, .bde-loop-isotope .bde-loop-item-sizer { width: calc(var(--bde-posts-isotope-width) - var(--bde-posts-isotope-width-diff)); margin-bottom: var(--bde-posts-gap); } .bde-loop-isotope .bde-loop-item-gutter { width: var(--bde-posts-gap); } /* Pass through html elements from global block */ .bde-loop-item .breakdance { display: contents; } /* Force cell to be full-width */ .bde-loop-list .bde-loop-item-sizer { width: 100%; } .breakdance .bde-post-list .bde-loop-list .bde-loop-item-sizer, .breakdance .bde-post-list .bde-loop-isotope .bde-loop-item-gutter { pointer-events: none; } /* * Pagination */ .bde-posts-pagination-infinite-loader-wrapper { text-align: center; } .bde-posts-pagination-infinite-loader-wrapper { margin-top: 32px; font-size: 32px; } .bde-posts-pagination { font-size: 16px; gap: 20px; margin-top: 24px; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; } .bde-posts-pagination ul { list-style: none; display: flex; flex-wrap: wrap; gap: 16px; padding: 0; justify-content: inherit; } .bde-posts-pagination a, .bde-posts-pagination a:hover { color: inherit; text-decoration: none; } .bde-posts-pagination ul li a.is-active { color: var(--bde-brand-primary-color); } .bde-posts-navigation-numbers-prev-next { flex-direction: column; } .bde-posts-pagination .breakdance-form-loader { animation: posts-list-loading-spinner 1.5s linear infinite; } @keyframes posts-list-loading-spinner { 0% { transform: rotate(0deg); } 100% { transform: rotate(360deg); } } .breakdance .section-background-video { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; bottom: 0; right: 0; overflow: hidden; pointer-events:none; } .breakdance .section-background-video .section-youtube-wrapper, .breakdance .section-background-video .section-vimeo-wrapper { aspect-ratio: 16/9; pointer-events: none; position: absolute; min-width: 100%; min-height: 100%; left: 50%; top: 50%; transform: translate(-50%, -50%); } .breakdance .section-background-video .section-youtube-wrapper .section-background-iframe, .breakdance .section-background-video .section-vimeo-wrapper iframe { max-width: none; } .breakdance .section-background-video .section-vimeo-wrapper iframe { width: 100%; min-height: 100%; } .breakdance .section-background-video video, .breakdance .section-background-video iframe { pointer-events:none; width: 100%; height: 100%; left:0; top:0; position: relative; border: 0; } .breakdance .section-background-video > video { object-fit: cover; object-position: center center; width: 100%; height: 100%; } .breakdance .section-background-overlay { position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; bottom: 0; right: 0; } .breakdance .section-background-slideshow { overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0; left: 0; bottom: 0; right: 0; z-index: auto; padding: 0; } .breakdance .section-background-slideshow .swiper { height: 100%; z-index: 0; } .breakdance .section-background-slideshow .swiper-slide-item { background-size: cover; background-position: center; position: absolute; top: 0; bottom: 0; left: 0; right: 0; } .breakdance .section-background-slideshow .swiper-wrapper { z-index: 0; } @keyframes breakdance-section-gradient-x { 0% { background-position: 0 50%; } 50% { background-position: 100% 50%; } 100% { background-position: 0 50%; } } @keyframes breakdance-section-gradient-y { 0% { background-position: 60% 0; } 50% { background-position: 40% 100%; } 100% { background-position: 60% 0; } } .breakdance .bde-section{position:relative;width:100%;background-position:center center;background-size:cover}.breakdance .bde-section .section-container{max-width:var(--bde-section-width);background-size:cover;position:relative;display:flex;flex-direction:column;align-items:flex-start;text-align:left;margin:0 auto;padding:var(--bde-section-vertical-padding) var(--bde-section-horizontal-padding)}.breakdance .bde-section .section-shape-divider-wrapper{position:absolute;overflow:hidden;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;pointer-events:none}.breakdance .bde-section .section-shape-divider-wrapper .section-shape-divider svg{position:absolute;color:#000;width:100%;height:320px;left:0;right:0;top:0}.breakdance .bde-heading{max-width:100%;margin:0}.breakdance .bde-post-list{max-width:100%;width:100%}.breakdance .bde-post-list .ee-post-meta a,.breakdance .bde-post-list .ee-post-title a,.breakdance .bde-post-list .ee-post-taxonomy-item a{text-decoration:none}.breakdance .bde-post-list .ee-post{display:flex;flex-direction:column;gap:20px;padding:20px}.breakdance .bde-post-list .ee-post-wrap{width:100%;height:100%;display:flex;flex-direction:column;align-items:flex-start}.breakdance .bde-post-list .ee-post-image-link{width:100%;flex-shrink:0;order:0}.breakdance .bde-post-list .ee-post-image-link.ee-posts-image-left,.breakdance .bde-post-list .ee-post-image-link.ee-posts-image-right{width:25%}.breakdance .bde-post-list .ee-post-image{width:100%;position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%}.breakdance .bde-post-list .ee-post-image img{width:100%;height:100%;position:absolute;left:0;right:0;top:0;bottom:0;object-fit:cover}.breakdance .bde-post-list .ee-post-title{margin:0 0 20px 0;text-align:left;font-size:1.25em}.breakdance .bde-post-list .ee-post-title a{color:inherit;display:block}.breakdance .bde-post-list .ee-post-meta{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;margin-bottom:15px;order:2;font-size:0.8125em}.breakdance .bde-post-list .ee-post-meta-item{position:relative}.breakdance .bde-post-list .ee-post-meta-item a{color:inherit}.breakdance .bde-post-list .ee-post-meta-item:not(:last-child):after{content:".";margin:0 5px}.breakdance .bde-post-list .ee-post-taxonomy-item:not(:last-child):after{content:"/";margin:0 5px}.breakdance .bde-post-list .ee-post-taxonomy{display:flex;flex-wrap:wrap;margin:0 0 12px 0;padding:0;font-size:0.875em;order:3}.breakdance .bde-post-list .ee-post-taxonomy-item{position:relative;list-style:none}.breakdance .bde-post-list .ee-post-taxonomy-item a{color:inherit}.breakdance .bde-post-list .ee-post-content{text-align:left;font-size:0.875em;margin-bottom:20px;order:4}.breakdance .bde-post-list .ee-post-content p{margin:0}.breakdance .bde-post-list .ee-post-button{margin-top:auto;order:10}.breakdance .bde-section{position:relative;width:100%;background-position:center center;background-size:cover}.breakdance .bde-section .section-container{max-width:var(--bde-section-width);background-size:cover;position:relative;display:flex;flex-direction:column;align-items:flex-start;text-align:left;margin:0 auto;padding:var(--bde-section-vertical-padding) var(--bde-section-horizontal-padding)}.breakdance .bde-section .section-shape-divider-wrapper{position:absolute;overflow:hidden;top:0;left:0;bottom:0;right:0;pointer-events:none}.breakdance .bde-section .section-shape-divider-wrapper .section-shape-divider svg{position:absolute;color:#000;width:100%;height:320px;left:0;right:0;top:0}.breakdance .bde-columns{max-width:100%;width:100%;display:flex;flex-direction:row;flex-wrap:nowrap;gap:var(--bde-column-gap)}.breakdance .bde-column{display:flex;flex-direction:column;justify-content:flex-start;text-align:left;align-items:flex-start;width:calc(var(--column-width) - var(--bde-column-gap) * ((var(--columnCount) - 1) / var(--columnCount)));position:relative;background-size:cover}.breakdance .bde-heading{max-width:100%;margin:0}.breakdance .bde-text{max-width:100%;margin:0;color:var(--bde-text-color,var(--bde-body-text-color))}.breakdance .bde-button{max-width:100%}.breakdance .bde-social-icons{max-width:100%;width:max-content;display:flex;flex-direction:row;justify-content:flex-start;align-items:flex-start;flex-wrap:wrap;gap:12px}.breakdance .bde-social-icons .bde-social-icons__icon-wrapper{display:flex;justify-content:center;align-items:center;background-color:var(--bde-brand-primary-color);border-radius:100%;padding:30px;transition-property:background-color,transform,opacity;transition-duration:var(--bde-transition-duration);transition-timing-function:ease}.breakdance .bde-social-icons .bde-social-icons__icon-wrapper svg{fill:#fff;width:20px;height:20px;transition-property:fill;transition-duration:var(--bde-transition-duration);transition-timing-function:ease}.breakdance .bde-social-icons .bde-social-icons__icon-facebook{background-color:#4267B2}.breakdance .bde-social-icons .bde-social-icons__icon-instagram{background-color:#E1306C}.breakdance .bde-social-icons .bde-social-icons__icon-twitter{background-color:#000}.breakdance .bde-social-icons .bde-social-icons__icon-youtube{background-color:red}.breakdance .bde-social-icons .bde-social-icons__icon-dribbble{background-color:#Ea4c89}.breakdance .bde-social-icons .bde-social-icons__icon-behance{background-color:#053eff}.breakdance .bde-social-icons .bde-social-icons__icon-github{background-color:#24292e}.breakdance .bde-social-icons .bde-social-icons__icon-linkedin{background-color:#0077b5}.breakdance .bde-social-icons .bde-social-icons__icon-vimeo{background-color:#19B7EA}.breakdance .bde-social-icons .bde-social-icons__icon-custom{background-color:var(--bde-brand-primary-color)}.breakdance .blurry{border-radius:0.6em;box-shadow:0px 5px 30px 0px #0000004D}.breakdance .blurry{backdrop-filter:saturate(100%) blur(5px);-webkit-backdrop-filter:saturate(100%) blur(5px)}.breakdance .blur-image{backdrop-filter:blur(10px);-webkit-backdrop-filter:blur(10px)}.breakdance .angled-corners{clip-path:polygon(0% 30px,30px 0%,calc(100% - 30px) 0%,100% 30px,/* Top-right corner cut */ 100% calc(100% - 30px),calc(100% - 30px) 100%,/* Bottom-right corner cut */ 30px 100%,0% calc(100% - 30px) /* Bottom-left corner cut */)}.breakdance .angled-wrapper{filter:drop-shadow(0px 5px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.4))}@keyframes flickerAnimation{0%{opacity:1}50%{opacity:0}100%{opacity:1}}@-o-keyframes flickerAnimation{0%{opacity:1}50%{opacity:0}100%{opacity:1}}@-moz-keyframes flickerAnimation{0%{opacity:1}50%{opacity:0}100%{opacity:1}}@-webkit-keyframes flickerAnimation{0%{opacity:1}50%{opacity:0}100%{opacity:1}}.breakdance .animate-scroll-btn{-webkit-animation:flickerAnimation 4s infinite;-moz-animation:flickerAnimation 4s infinite;-o-animation:flickerAnimation 4s infinite;animation:flickerAnimation 4s infinite}.breakdance .bde-heading-57227-106{margin-bottom:56px}.breakdance .bde-post-list-57227-104{width:100%}.breakdance .bde-post-list-57227-104>.bde-loop{--bde-posts-gap:20px;--bde-posts-per-row:2}.breakdance .bde-post-list-57227-104 .bde-posts-pagination{margin-top:50px}.breakdance .bde-post-list-57227-104 .bde-posts-pagination-infinite-loader-wrapper{margin-top:50px}.breakdance .bde-post-list-57227-104 .ee-post{border-radius:4px;box-shadow:2px 4px 20px 0px #0000000F;padding:20px 20px 20px 20px;align-items:flex-start}.breakdance .bde-post-list-57227-104 .ee-post-wrap{align-items:flex-start}.breakdance .bde-post-list-57227-104 .ee-post-meta-item:not(:last-child):after{content:"/"}.breakdance .bde-post-list-57227-104 .ee-post-title{text-align:left}.breakdance .bde-post-list-57227-104 .ee-post-meta{justify-content:flex-start}.breakdance .bde-post-list-57227-104 .ee-post-taxonomy{justify-content:flex-start}.breakdance .bde-post-list-57227-104 .ee-post-content{text-align:left}@media (max-width:1119px){.breakdance .bde-post-list-57227-104>.bde-loop{--bde-posts-per-row:2}}@media (max-width:1023px){.breakdance .bde-post-list-57227-104>.bde-loop{--bde-posts-per-row:1}}