Zscaler ThreatLabz has reported a 275 percent rise in ransomware data theft, with roughly 900 TB of data stolen, and a growing share of attacks aimed at executives and employees in privileged roles. The pattern of ransomware targeting executives privileged roles matters well beyond corporate security teams, because it shifts the entry point from the network perimeter to individual people and their accounts.

This post looks at what the data shows, why these accounts are attractive, and where a VPN fits into a realistic defense. It is based on the ThreatLabz findings as reported by ITdaily.

What Zscaler's ransomware data shows

According to the summary of the ThreatLabz findings, ransomware activity has grown sharply in terms of stolen data, up 275 percent, with about 900 TB taken. The report also notes more attacks directed at executives and privileged roles.

The headline number points to a change in how attackers apply pressure. Stealing data gives criminals leverage even when a victim can restore systems from backups. For the full figures, see our earlier coverage: Zscaler Report: Ransomware Data Theft Jumps 275% to 896 TB.

The second finding is arguably more useful for individual readers. Attackers are not only looking for weak servers. They are choosing people with access, authority, or influence over sensitive systems.

Why executives and privileged accounts are the target

The logic is straightforward. A privileged account can reach more systems, more files, and more approval workflows than a typical employee account. Compromising one such account can shorten the path to large-scale data theft considerably.

Executives and others in privileged roles also tend to hold access to confidential material, such as financial records, legal documents, and strategic plans. That makes stolen data more valuable as leverage. These individuals may also have exceptions to security policies, or be harder to challenge when they make unusual requests.

The key point: this is about the account and the person behind it, not only the company network. A strong firewall does little if an attacker logs in with valid credentials obtained through phishing, reuse of leaked passwords, or social engineering.

Where a VPN helps and where it doesn't

A VPN is often described as a broad security tool, so it is worth being precise about its limits here.

Where it helps:

  • It encrypts traffic on untrusted networks such as hotel, airport, or café Wi-Fi, reducing the risk of interception.
  • It hides your IP address from the sites you visit and from local network observers, which limits some profiling.
  • A properly configured corporate VPN can restrict access to internal resources to authenticated users.

Where it does not help:

  • It does not stop phishing. If someone enters credentials on a fake login page, the VPN has no say in it.
  • It does not protect a compromised device. Malware on a laptop sees data before it is encrypted.
  • It does not fix weak, reused, or stolen passwords.
  • It does not limit what a privileged account can do once an attacker is logged in.

In other words, a VPN addresses the transport of data, while the ransomware pattern described by Zscaler is mostly about identity and access. Treat a VPN as one layer, not a substitute for account protection. Remote access itself also needs care, since poorly secured remote-access paths can become an entry point of their own.

What This Means For You

If you hold a senior or privileged role, assume you are a more attractive target than your job title might suggest. That also applies to assistants and managers who can approve payments, reset access, or handle sensitive documents.

If you are an ordinary user, the lesson still holds: your credentials are the prize. Habits that protect an executive, such as unique passwords and strong authentication, protect you too.

Defensive steps for high-value individuals and organizations

  • Use phishing-resistant multi-factor authentication where possible, such as hardware security keys or passkeys, rather than relying only on SMS codes.
  • Apply least privilege. Give accounts only the access they need, and review privileged access regularly.
  • Separate admin and daily accounts. Do not browse email or the web with an account that has broad administrative rights.
  • Use a password manager to keep every credential unique, and change any that appear in known leaks.
  • Verify unusual requests for payments or access through a second channel, such as a phone call to a known number.
  • Keep devices updated and secure remote-access tools with strong authentication and monitoring.
  • Plan for data theft, not just encryption. Know what sensitive data you hold and where it lives, since backups alone do not solve extortion based on stolen files.

Takeaway

The ThreatLabz findings show that ransomware targeting executives privileged roles is a consequence of how attackers now make money: steal valuable data through the accounts that can reach it. A VPN can protect your connection, but it cannot replace strong credentials, least privilege, and careful verification.

Start by reviewing your own credential and remote-access habits this week. Then read our full breakdown of the Zscaler ransomware data theft figures to see the numbers behind the trend.