Why managers are ransomware's top targets now - and 6 ways to stay safe - ZDNET

Our gifting experts are obsessively searching for holiday gifts that are unique, thoughtful and suitable for any budget. Almost two-thirds of the victims targeted in a single ransomware campaign held managerial positions or higher. Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. Ransomware attacks don’t just target specific organizations but also specific employees. Those employees are often the ones with special privileges or higher levels of access that attackers can exploit to reach confidential resources. That’s why managers often end up being in the crosshairs of such attacks. In new research, “Ransomware Moves up the Org Chart: Managers Are Prime Targets,” Zscaler’s ThreatLabz threat intelligence unit analyzed the early stage of a real-world ransomware attack. Part of Zscaler’s upcoming ThreatLabz 2026 Ransomware Report, the research looked for details among one specific campaign to try to find common clues and signals. Also: Why this fully agentic ransomware attack is giving researchers nightmares The ransomware group that staged the campaign was known for capturing initial access, stealing a huge amount of corporate data, and then encrypting certain critical systems.