# Black Hat Europe 2025: Reputation matters - even in the ransomware economy

DevFeed: [Black Hat Europe 2025: Reputation matters - even in the ransomware economy](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/black-hat-europe-2025-reputation-matters-even-in-the-ransomware-economy-8322.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://www.welivesecurity.com/en/business-security/black-hat-europe-2025-reputation-ransomware/>)

Author: Tony Anscombe

Published: 2025-12-11T16:04:19Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [WeLiveSecurity](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/welivesecurity.md>)

Topics: [ransomware](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/ransomware.md>), [Cybercrime](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/cybercrime.md>), [incident](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/incident.md>), [data](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/data.md>), [Encryption](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/encryption.md>)

Tags: [2025](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/2025.md>), [attacks](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/attacks.md>), [black-hat](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/black-hat.md>), [breach](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/breach.md>), [business](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/business.md>), [business-security](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/business-security.md>), [company](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/company.md>), [cost](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/cost.md>), [customers](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/customers.md>), [europe](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/europe.md>), [financial](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/financial.md>), [media](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/media.md>), [operational](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/operational.md>), [payment](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/payment.md>), [presentation](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/presentation.md>), [ransomware](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/ransomware.md>), [recovery](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/recovery.md>), [research](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/research.md>), [revenue](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/revenue.md>), [systems](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/systems.md>)

## AI overview

The article examines LockBit's ransomware-as-a-service operations and the importance of reputation for both ransomware groups and victim companies. It discusses how paying an extortion demand can affect public trust, recovery time, business disruption, financial costs, insurance decisions, and revenue loss.

## Source excerpt

Being seen as reliable is good for 'business' and ransomware groups care about 'brand reputation' just as much as their victims