Gone is the necessity for handwritten letters and memos or the need for physical mail for communication and information sharing. Instead, email provides professional and personal asynchronous communication and instant information sharing. Yet, for all of email’s benefits, significant challenges such as security breaches from ransomware exist. 

One of the most popular and free web-based email services is Gmail. “Launched by Google in 2004, Gmail has emerged as one of the most popular email services worldwide. Its seamless integration across devices, strong security features, and intuitive interface have enabled Gmail to remain a leader in the email sector” (Kumar). Gmail users can chat with other users in real time, make video calls, and it can be accessed from a personal computer, tablet, or other Android/iOS device.

  1. Gmail boasts over 1.8 billion users globally as of 2025.
  2. In September 2024, the platform recorded 10 billion monthly visits.
  3. Gmail holds a 30.7% share of the world’s email client market.
  4. More than 121 billion emails are sent every day through Gmail.
  5. Users spend an average of 28 minutes on Gmail daily.
  6. 90% of startups and over 60% of mid-sized companies in the US use Gmail.
  7. Gmail has an open rate of 75%.
    Source: Naveen Kumar. Gmail Statistics 2025. https://www.demandsage.com/gmail-statistics/

As advantageous as Gmail’s benefits are, there is the lurking challenge of cybersecurity. National University reports that “cloud environment intrusion increased 75% over the last year and there has been a 76% increase in victims’ names on eCrime leak sites” (National University). In addition, federal authorities are warning users about “dangerous ransomware linked to a group of developers who have breached hundreds of victims' data, including people in the medical, education, legal, insurance, tech, and manufacturing fields” (Limehouse). It’s a very scary situation and it happens more often than you think. 

Consider this: In 2022, there were 5.4 billion malware attacks globally and 4 in 10 malware attacks result in confidential data leakage. Once the information has been stolen, cyber criminals demand a ransom. “If victims refuse to pay, the group threatens to publish the stolen data on their data leaks site" (Limehouse). In the face of having personal data published, reports indicate that 83% of respondents paid the ransom in the wake of an attack and over half paid more than $100,000 in ransom. 

What can organizations do to protect themselves from savvy cybercriminals? Organizations need to make protecting their personal information a priority. Generative AI will likely be used to target victims, and it can be remarkably accurate, leading to a phishing or malware scheme.  Additionally, experts recommend that all organizations require accounts to have password logins and require multifactor authentications for all services. Organizations should also develop a recovery plan to maintain sensitive or proprietary information, certify that all backup data is encrypted and ensure all operating systems, hardware and software are up to date. 

Be careful what you click on, so you aren’t a victim of “pay or say goodbye to your files.”