The original headline is: "Verizon 2026 DBIR: 96% of ransomware victims are SMBs and how to defend your stack"

Short summary

Verizon's 2026 DBIR shows 96% of ransomware victims are SMBs, with vulnerability exploitation now the top entry vector (31%). The post breaks down the modern ransomware kill chain, WAF limitations, and concrete stack-level defenses. Median ransom payments have fallen below $140K as 69% of victims now refuse to pay.

• •96% of ransomware victims are SMBs per Verizon 2026 DBIR
• •Vulnerability exploitation is now the #1 entry vector at 31%
• •69% of victims refuse to pay; backups and refusal norms are working

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