The long-held understanding among security researchers and network defenders is that it's impossible to negotiate in good faith with an extortion racket because there's no incentive for the other side to actually walk away.
Their income is based on trust: that their target trusts them to keep their end of the bargain when paid. Without that trust, there’s no reason to pay them or engage at all other than to try to trap them.
Their income is based on trust: that their target trusts them to keep their end of the bargain when paid. Without that trust, there’s no reason to pay them or engage at all other than to try to trap them.