Ransomware attacks double in Q2

Criminal groups change strategies to maximise impact.

Dragos has revealed that ransomware incidents almost doubled in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the first quarter, indicating a significant resurgence of the ransomware threat.

The threat intelligence team at Dragos analysed ransomware data from various sources, including public reports and dark websites, to provide insights into the trends, patterns, and observations of ransomware activity targeting industrial sectors.

They found that the industrial sector remains a prime target for criminal groups due to the critical nature of its operations and the potentially high impact of disruptions. Ransomware's impact on industrial organisations has also increased, with ransomware groups focusing on high-impact operators to maximize their profits.

Some key developments this quarter include:

The number of ransomware incidents almost doubled in the second quarter compared to the first quarter, with 312 observed incidents globally.

Ransomware groups demonstrated significant resilience and adaptability, with some groups rebranding and others emerging with new tactics and techniques.

The manufacturing sector was the most affected, with 210 observed incidents, accounting for approximately 67 percent of all ransomware incidents.

The Lockbit group was behind most attacks against industrial organizations, with approximately 21 percent (or 66 incidents) of observed ransomware events.

Approximately 26 percent of global ransomware incidents (82 in total) impacted Europe.

Among the 86 ransomware groups known for targeting industrial organizations, 29 remained active in the second quarter compared to 22 ransomware groups in the first quarter of 2024. However, the second quarter saw a resurgence with several rebranded groups and new entrants in the ransomware landscape. Groups such as BlackSuit (formerly Royal ransomware) and RansomHub (previously Knight ransomware) have shown notable activity, leveraging sophisticated tactics and techniques to enhance their operations.

The team at Dragos also provided recommendations for industrial organisations to enhance their cybersecurity posture and mitigate the risk of ransomware attacks, such as implementing the five critical controls recommended by the SANS Institute.

SUSE and NVIDIA have collaborated on an AI Factory designed to support enterprises in deploying and...
The new CIS Companion Guides provide security guidance for emerging AI environments, including LLMs...
ServiceNow’s planned acquisition of Armis aims to expand its market position and add capabilities...
ShareGate research highlights the challenges organisations face as AI adoption outpaces existing...
ProxySmart provides a technical clarification of its mobile proxy architecture, outlining system...
Explore how AI trust barriers hinder progress and how transparency and security can turn hesitation...
euNetworks has been selected as a connectivity partner for the AWS European Sovereign Cloud, aiming...
11:11 Systems has been celebrated for its partnership with Cohesity, focusing on cyber resilience,...