Ransomware gangs skip the CEO, head straight for the 40-something IT manager

Ransomware gangs are increasingly targeting mid-level managers rather than executives, according to Zscaler research tracking 351 victims across 334 organizations in a single campaign. Attackers are using "business privilege" targeting—identifying employees in accounting, finance, sales, and operations with authority over payments and budgets—rather than focusing on technical administrator access. The typical victim is a 46-year-old Gen X manager, as this demographic often holds established positions with decision-making power without requiring compromise of the executive suite.