Attacks involving million-dollar ransom demands attract headlines, but the payout is no longer the sole financial incentive for attackers. The exfiltration of critical data is a key motivator that can be used to extort victims into paying even larger fees to recover assets. Data, including intellectual property such as research and patents, is often targeted by organized groups or as part of corporate espionage. Stealing this information and then coercing a business into paying to get access to
