In 2024, ransomware groups claimed responsibility for 5,461 successful ransomware attacks on organizations worldwide. 1,204 of these attacks were confirmed by the targeted organizations. The rest were claimed by ransomware groups on their data leak sites, but have not been acknowledged by the targets.
A report by Secureworks revealed a 30% year-over-year rise in active ransomware groups, which demonstrates fragmentation of an established criminal ecosystem.
Cybercriminals operating ransomware as a service from overseas continue to be responsible for most high-profile cybercrime attacks against the UK
The deployment of ransomware remains the greatest serious and organised cybercrime threat, the largest cybersecurity threat, and also poses a risk to the UK’s national security. Ransomware attacks can have a significant impact on victims due to financial, data, and service losses, which can lead to business closure, inaccessible public services, and compromised customer data. Threat actors are typically based in overseas jurisdictions where limited cooperation makes it challenging for UK law enforcement to disrupt their activities.
'Fortune 50' Company Made Record-Breaking $75M Ransomware Payment
A major company made a staggering $75 million ransomware payment to hackers earlier this year, according to cybersecurity vendor Zscaler. Zscaler made the claim in a Tuesday report examining the latest trends in ransomware attacks, which continue to ensnare companies, hospitals, and schools across the country.
In 2023, ransomware actors intensified their operations, targeting high-profile institutions and critical infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and government agencies. Major ransomware supply chain attacks were carried out exploiting the ubiquitous file transfer software MOVEit, impacting companies ranging from the BBC to British Airways. As a result of these attacks and others, ransomware gangs reached an unprecedented milestone, surpassing $1 billion in extorted cryptocurrency payments from victims. Last year’s developments highlight the evolving nature of this cyber threat and its increasing impact on global institutions and security at large.
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