Why are there still ransomware attacks against companies and governments? If companies and governments have large servers and back-ups, why do they pay money and allow to be blackmailed, instead of just recovering their files from the back-ups?

Some companies and governments may choose to pay ransomware attackers instead of restoring files from backups for a few reasons:

1. Urgency: Restoring files from backups can be time-consuming, especially if the backups are not up-to-date or the restoration process is complex. Paying the ransom may seem like a quicker way to regain access to critical data.

2. Data Sensitivity: In some cases, the data encrypted by the ransomware may be highly sensitive or confidential. Companies and governments may believe that paying the ransom is the least risky way to ensure that the data remains confidential.

3. Cost Considerations: Depending on the scale of the ransomware attack and the extent of the damage, the cost of paying the ransom may be considered lower than the potential financial losses resulting from extended downtime or data loss.

4. Lack of Confidence in Backups: There have been cases where companies discovered that their backups were also compromised or inadequate to fully restore the encrypted data. In such situations, paying the ransom may seem like the only option to recover the files.

However, it’s important to note that paying ransomware attackers is not recommended as it encourages further criminal activities, and there is no guarantee that the attackers will provide the decryption key or fully restore the files. It’s always advisable to have a robust cybersecurity strategy that includes regular backups, strong security measures, and incident response protocols to prevent and mitigate ransomware attacks.