We Know You Can Pay a Million: Inside the Dark Economy of Hacking and Ransomware: LONGLISTED FOR THE FT BUSINESS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2026

by Anja Shortland

Cybercrime is everywhere. A multibillion-pound industry run by wily hackers and fraudsters bankrupting businesses, stalling governments, stealing sensitive data. You could be next. Are you ready?

'Brilliant, original and authoritative. An extraordinary book that will change the way you think about ransomware and the digital ecosystems that surround us' PETER FRANKOPAN, bestselling author of THE SILK ROADS

'A fascinating book about one of the great scourges of the modern world' OLIVER BULLOUGH, bestselling author of MONEYLAND

'The history is fascinating... Shortland describes brilliantly the battle between the black hat - bad - and white hat - good - hackers... The revelations are so good' SUNDAY TIMES

You've heard the stories. Frozen IT systems, error codes everywhere, a pulsating pop-up pay up, or lose everything. With new attacks hitting the headlines every day, ransomware is recognised as a serious threat to global security and the economy, yet it remains a slippery and little understood phenomenon.

From a leading expert in illicit trading, We Know You Can Pay a Million spotlights the criminal underworld where organised groups trade stolen information and cryptocurrencies, and reveals the fascinating hidden histories of the superhackers whose activities have potentially catastrophic consequences for us all.

Genres: Nonfiction

302 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 9, 2026

Reviews

[Bryony]

This is a decent overview of ransomware, its history and roots from about 1970 to how it has grown into a massive global issue in 2026. The cost of business Vs the cost of paying their demands, how this affects everyone from their personal data to their finances, and how this is everyone's problem. There is a lot here ranging from law enforcement, politicians and the gangs of cyber criminals themselves. I particularly enjoyed learning about the evolving environment and the step up in sophistication and technology used from the 1970s to present day.

[Cat]

We Know You Can Pay a Million is a compelling and eye-opening exploration of ransomware, cybercrime, and the hidden economies behind digital extortion.

Anja Shortland examines the structures and incentives driving modern hacking networks with clarity and depth, making a complex subject both accessible and engaging.

Overall, it is a timely and fascinating nonfiction work that will strongly appeal to readers interested in cybersecurity, technology, and the evolving realities of the digital world.

[Rhonda]

An interesting insight into a world I know little about from personal experience (thankfully). It also showed how the basic principles of business also work in the dark economy - doing what you say, understanding willingness to pay, requiring intermediaries, trust, and the need to innovate.

[John Smith]

Audiobook was excellent. Well narrated. Interesting stories.