Usually, no. The FBI, CISA, and the UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) discourage paying a ransomware demand. Payment may not produce a working decryptor, restore all files, or stop stolen information from being published or sold. It also does not remove malware or fix the way attackers got in. If you are facing an active incident, contain it, assess recovery options, and get qualified technical and legal advice before making a decision.
Why do official agencies discourage paying?
The FBI says, “The FBI does not support paying a ransom in response to a ransomware attack.” In joint guidance on Play ransomware, the FBI, CISA, and Australia’s ACSC say they “do not encourage paying a ransom as payment does not guarantee victim files will be recovered.” These are agency recommendations, not guarantees about what will happen in a particular incident.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Paying can fund further criminal activity and may signal that an organization is willing or able to pay again. More immediately, a demand is not a dependable recovery plan: attackers control whether they provide a decryptor, whether it works, and whether they follow through on other promises. No universal rule can settle every case, but a payment should not be treated as the default route to recovery.
What can payment fail to fix?
Encrypted files and disrupted operations
A criminal may provide no key, an unusable key, or a tool that restores only some files. Decryption can also take a long time. Even if files become readable, systems may still need to be rebuilt and checked before they can be trusted.
#1 Best Overall
- Slim durable design to help take your important files with you
- Vast capacities up to 6TB[1] to store your photos, videos, music, important documents and more
- Back up smarter with included device management software[2] with defense against ransomware
- Help secure your important files with password protection and hardware encryption
- 3-year limited warranty
Stolen data and disclosure threats
In double-extortion attacks, criminals both encrypt systems and threaten to publish or sell data they claim to have stolen. A payment cannot establish that the attackers deleted their copies. The UK NCSC warns victims not to trust an attacker’s promise to delete stolen data after payment. Treat claims about what was taken, and promises about what will happen next, as unverified until independently investigated.
The original compromise
Ransom payment does not remove an infection, close an exposed entry point, or establish that an attacker has lost access. Investigation and clean recovery are still necessary. Restoring into an environment that has not been checked can expose restored systems to continued or renewed compromise.
Rank #2
- Slim durable design to help take your important files with you
- Back up smarter with included device management software[2] with defense against ransomware
- Help secure your important files with password protection and hardware encryption
- 3-year limited warranty
What should you weigh before deciding?
There is no formula that produces the right answer for every victim. Compare the practical alternatives and consequences using evidence from responders and people responsible for the affected operations.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minute| Decision factor | What to establish |
|---|---|
| Recovery options | Whether backups or other restoration paths are available, usable, and verified as clean; whether a known decryptor exists for the specific ransomware variant. |
| Time and operational impact | How long restoration is likely to take, how long workarounds can continue, and the consequences for essential services, safety, and people who depend on them. |
| Possible data theft | What information may have been accessed or exfiltrated, how sensitive it is, and which people, customers, or partners could be affected. Do not rely solely on the attacker’s description. |
| Overall cost and continuing risk | The likely costs of disruption and recovery, alongside the possibility of continuing access, repeat extortion, or an incomplete restoration. |
| Legal and reporting duties | Which countries’ laws and sanctions rules apply, and whether contracts, regulators, or affected individuals must be notified. |
These factors help make the choice explicit; they do not make payment safe or lawful. Include the effects on essential operations and vulnerable people alongside financial costs.
Rank #3
- No wall warts: Work freely with its bus-powered USB-C. No wall outlet required.
- Big on space: High-capacity storage to store all your files in one place.
- Reliable backup: Safeguard assignments, projects, or sensitive files with trusted performance.
- Fuss-free, clutter-free: One port, one cord, quick connect.
- Peace-of-mind: Comes with two-year limited warranty and Rescue Data Recovery Services.
Is paying a ransomware demand legal?
There is no single answer for every country, victim, payee, or incident. The legal discussion here is specific to the United Kingdom and should not be applied as a statement of law elsewhere. Get qualified counsel for every jurisdiction involved.
UK sanctions
UK NCSC guidance says payment may be unlawful if it is made to an entity or area subject to UK sanctions. The UK government’s financial sanctions guidance, updated 28 January 2026, says sanctions prohibit making funds or economic resources available to a designated person or entity, including through a ransom payment. Payment facilitators should assess their own exposure and carry out due diligence. Sanctions status and applicable requirements can change, so obtain current specialist advice rather than relying on an attacker’s identity claims.
Rank #4
- High-capacity external hard drive with up to 2TB of storage The ModusTech Facet portable external hard drive gives you dependable HDD storage in a slim 2.5-inch design. Multiple capacities available up to 2TB — back up photos, videos, music, documents, and game libraries with room to grow. A trusted external storage solution for everyday backup, media archives, and creative work.
- USB-C and USB 3.1 connectivity with included 2-in-1 cable The Facet ships with a USB-C to USB-C cable and tethered USB-A adapter, so this external hard drive connects to modern laptops, USB-C iPhones, tablets, and older USB-A computers without buying an extra cable. USB 3.1 Gen 1 (5Gbps) interface delivers real-world transfer speeds up to 100MB/s — fast enough to back up 50GB of files in about 8 minutes.
- Plug-and-play external hard drive for PC, Mac, and laptops Preformatted in exFAT and ready to use the moment you plug it in. The Facet works out of the box with Windows PCs, macOS Macs, MacBooks, Chromebooks, and laptops — no drivers, no software, no setup required. A true plug-and-play external hard drive built for everyday use across every major operating system.
- External hard drive for PS4, Xbox One, and Smart TV gaming The Facet is compatible with PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Smart TVs with USB support. PS4 and Xbox One games run directly from the drive — plug it in, format through the console, and add to your storage. Also works with Smart TVs that support USB recording or external media playback.
- Slim, shock-resistant portable external hard drive — 160g At 2.5 inches and just 160g, this portable external hard drive is bus-powered through a single USB-C cable — no separate power adapter, no extra cables. Slim enough for a laptop bag, jacket pocket, or camera bag, with a shockresistant casing and faceted diamond-texture top panel that resists fingerprints and everyday wear. Backed by a 1-year limited warranty from ModusTech, a consumer electronics brand specializing in external storage.
UK data protection and notification obligations
The NCSC says paying a ransom does not satisfy regulatory duties and is not considered by the Information Commissioner’s Office a risk mitigation. A payment therefore does not, by itself, discharge applicable data-protection or notification obligations. This point is specific to the UK guidance; requirements and regulator positions elsewhere may differ.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
What should an organization do during an incident?
- Contain the incident and preserve evidence. Follow the organization’s incident plan. Isolate affected systems as appropriate and as advised by incident responders. When feasible, preserve relevant logs, system images, memory, ransom notes, and communications so they can inform investigation and recovery.
- Establish recovery alternatives. Assess backups and other restoration paths. Validate backups and target systems as clean before restoring or reconnecting them. Ask responders or authorities whether a known decryptor is available for the specific variant.
- Assess operational and data impact. Establish what is disrupted and investigate what information may have been accessed or exfiltrated. Do not assume the attacker’s claims about the amount of data taken or its deletion are accurate.
- Bring in the right advisers. Involve qualified incident-response experts, relevant organizational leaders, insurers, and legal counsel as appropriate. Keep a contemporaneous record of the evidence considered, advice received, and decisions made.
- Check legal duties and report the incident. Identify relevant jurisdictions, sanctions rules, contractual duties, and any regulator or individual notification requirements. The FBI urges victims to report ransomware incidents whether or not they pay. For U.S. victims, the FBI and CISA identify reporting channels; victims elsewhere should contact the relevant authorities in their jurisdiction.
- If payment is still under consideration, seek specialist advice first. Get advice about whether and how to communicate with the attackers, independently verify claims about the intrusion, and assess whether a payment would be lawful. The remaining uncertainties about recovery and disclosure still apply.
How should you prepare before an attack?
Backups can provide an alternative to relying on an attacker’s decryptor, but the policy matters more than the storage device. Official guidance recommends keeping offline backups separated from networked systems, and organizations should check that they can restore them. Include recovery checks and incident roles in the organization’s plan so the team knows how to assess backup integrity and who must be involved in a crisis.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
