Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsTreat the claim as a possible data breach, but do not assume it is true—or that paying will stop a leak. If you are an individual, contact the affected organization through a phone number or website you already trust. If you represent an organization, activate its incident-response plan, contain affected systems carefully, preserve evidence, and involve qualified responders. The right reporting and notification steps depend on where you are, what data is involved, and your organization’s obligations.
What does a data-theft claim mean?
Ransomware groups may combine file encryption with threats to publish stolen data, a tactic known as “double extortion.” They may also steal data and threaten to release it without encrypting files, according to the CISA #StopRansomware Guide, whose resource listing gives a revision date of October 19, 2023.
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A group’s message is an allegation, not forensic confirmation of what it accessed or took. Even a sample that appears genuine may not establish how much data was taken or whether the group has all the information it claims. The actual scope requires assessment of the incident evidence.
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If you are an individual
Contact the affected company, employer, school, or service using a separate, known channel—not contact details supplied only by the extortionists. Ask whether it is investigating an incident and what steps it recommends. If the threat concerns your employer or another organization, report it promptly to that organization’s IT or security team rather than trying to investigate its systems yourself.
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If you are responding for an organization
Activate the incident-response and communications plans. Bring in the IT or security team, leadership, and—when appropriate—your incident-response provider, insurer, privacy lead, and legal counsel. The CISA guide recommends coordinated response; the UK NCSC also advises organizations weighing payment to seek objective input from outside experts, including insurers, law enforcement, or incident-response firms familiar with ransomware.
How should an organization contain the incident?
- Identify and isolate affected systems. Follow your response plan and qualified responders’ direction to limit further spread. Use an out-of-band communication channel when appropriate; compromised systems or accounts may not be safe for incident coordination.
- Preserve evidence before making destructive changes. Keep relevant logs, records, system images, and memory where feasible. For cloud resources, the CISA guide recommends taking snapshots for forensic review. Do not wipe, reimage, or power off affected devices as a blanket first step: those actions can destroy useful evidence.
- Consider shutdown only when needed to contain spread. CISA cautions that powering off a device can lose volatile evidence. If a system cannot be disconnected by other means, a responder may judge that powering it down is necessary to prevent further spread; seek qualified guidance where possible.
Record the incident timeline, decisions, actions taken, and evidence collected or unavailable. Keep attacker communications and other relevant material for responders, but do not open suspicious attachments or circulate purported stolen files unnecessarily.
How can you assess whether data was stolen?
Have qualified responders compare the extortion claim with available system, network, and cloud evidence. Record what is known, what remains uncertain, and the basis for each conclusion. The UK NCSC’s guidance for organisations considering payment recommends checking claims about the nature and amount of stolen data as far as possible. That is not a promise that every assertion can be verified—or that investigators can prove no data was taken.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Avoid publicly confirming a specific dataset was stolen until it has been assessed. If the attackers publish material, do not repost it as a way to verify the claim; direct it to the response team and preserve relevant details for investigation.
Who should you report the incident to, and who must be notified?
For U.S. organizations, the CISA guide lists CISA, a local FBI field office, FBI IC3, and the U.S. Secret Service as reporting or assistance contacts. The FTC’s Data Breach Response: A Guide for Business says businesses should notify law enforcement, other affected businesses, and affected individuals as applicable.
There is no single notification deadline that applies to every incident. Duties depend on jurisdiction, sector, the type of information involved, and the facts established. An organization should promptly ask its legal counsel or privacy lead to determine which regulators, customers, employees, partners, or other affected people must be notified and when. Individual reporting routes and obligations likewise depend on the circumstances.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Should you pay the ransom?
Do not treat payment as a reliable way to recover files or prevent publication. CISA, the FBI, and the NSA discourage payment; their BlackMatter ransomware advisory says paying does not guarantee that a victim’s files will be recovered and may encourage further criminal activity or fund illicit activity.
If an organization is considering payment, involve qualified incident-response experts, legal counsel, and relevant stakeholders before deciding. The UK NCSC recommends careful recordkeeping, objective outside advice, and checking the group’s data-theft claims as far as possible. The decision must account for the particular incident; a payment is not proof that the attackers will keep their promises.
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