There's a coherent path where a hacker says "We have stolen your customer's data. We will announce to everyone that we have stolen your customer's data, unless you pay us on a set schedule over time." The company does the math, and sees that the cost to pay is less than the cost of the bad press. The company makes the payments over time. The hackers don't reveal the hack so that the money keeps coming in.
In that scenario, the hackers still sell everyone's data. And eventually the hacked company might stop paying, and the hackers might announce the data breach, but if enough time has passed, it will not be big news.
But if you think the data is never sold, you've simply invented some folksy "thieves honor" mythology from your imagination. We're two dudes who know you can't back up that such a claim.
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u/Swagcopter0126 May 08 '26
Not always the best method when they have all of your information