A Reddit AMA ("Ask Me Anything") session with someone who negotiated with ransomware actors reveals disturbing truths about ransomware payments. The survey data from their organization confirms what many suspected: a shockingly high percentage of targeted organizations pay ransoms, often repeatedly. This highlights the flawed notion that paying once will resolve the issue; instead, it often encourages further attacks. The continued profitability of ransomware attacks underscores the urgent need for robust cybersecurity measures. Bitcoin's role in this dark corner of the internet, facilitating untraceable transactions, only reinforces its importance as a disruptive technology, though it's a shame it is used for such nefarious purposes. Ultimately, this underscores the need for strong security practices and a shift towards a more resilient system, one that doesn't rely on paying criminals to regain access to your data.