Ransomware negotiator works with businesses attacked by cybercriminals

July 30, 2025 – Published on KPHO-TV Phoenix, AZ

Cybercriminals are stealing information and locking down IT systems, demanding a ransom to release it, and Arizona businesses are often hit.

Arizona currently ranks eighth in the country in cyberattacks, with school districts, hospitals and local businesses targeted.

One of the biggest challenges companies face right now is from ransomware, which cybercriminals use to gain access to someone’s software and files, making it unusable. Cybercriminals will then try to extort payment from their victims to release the data.

Mark Lance, a ransomware negotiator with GuidePoint Security, recently joined the KPHO-TV team to shed light on the issue.

“They’re holding systems hostage,” said Lance. “They’re holding information hostage.” Lance said businesses hit with ransomware will hire him to step in and negotiate with the cybercriminals, to work out the payment and terms to set their systems free.

He said most company officials have no idea what to do when they’re attacked. “We’ve worked hundreds of cases on behalf of these victims and what we bring is the ability to set expectations on what’s going to transpire, but also educate them on what is going on situationally,” Lance said.

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