Understanding the latest ransomware statistics, facts and trends can help you protect yourself and your data. Here’s everything you need to know, including industry-specific figures and frequently-asked questions.
These are some of the most important ransomware statistics for business owners, IT teams and individuals.
Here’s a ransomware statistic that proves ransomware is on the rise as technological advancements lower the entry barriers to cybercriminality.
Your problems won’t always disappear when you pay the ransom, as these ransomware statistics prove.
Ransomware statistics show the health care, financial services, education and manufacturing sectors have a history of being the top targets for attacks.
These are some of the most pressing questions about ransomware statistics people like you have been asking.
A majority of organizations become victims of ransomware each year, regardless of their size or location. In 2023, three-quarters of organizations reported they experienced at least one attack, with nearly one-third experiencing four or more attacks.
The MediaMarkt attack, aimed at one multinational consumer electronics enterprise, is one of the largest ransoms ever paid. The company, affected by Hive ransomware, received a demand for $240 million in 2021. They ultimately negotiated the price down to $50 million. While the price cut was substantial, they paid more than almost any other firm ever has.
According to the latest figures, education has emerged as the industry most targeted by ransomware. Nearly 80% of lower and higher education institutions report being hit by at least one attack in 2023.
In order from most to least targeted, construction, government agencies, entertainment, retail, critical infrastructure, logistics, financial services, sales, health care and manufacturing follow closely behind. Ransomware hit at least 50% of organizations in each industry in 2023.
The frequency of ransomware payments varies by region, entity and industry, so the global average is general. Roughly three in 10 ransomware victims choose to pay the ransom. Although it’s technically illegal to pay the ransom in the U.S., many companies still do so.
Here are three key emerging trends based on ransomware statistics.
The country’s top security experts have noticed the growing trend of nation-state adversaries backing ransomware groups. There’s been a significant uptick in the amount of state-sponsored attacks on higher education institutions and critical infrastructure as foreign entities attempt to block domestic academic innovations and cause disorder.
In a double-extortion ransomware attack, the attackers exfiltrate the target’s data and threaten to release or sell it unless they receive payment. At the same time, they encrypt the data and demand a ransom in exchange for a decryption key. Even if organizations have backups for recovery, they have no choice but to pay — which can be more expensive.
Attackers are increasingly leveraging AI to write malicious code for ransomware attacks. Historically, they’ve used malware like REvil or LockBit. With AI, they have the ability to make dynamic code that constantly changes. They can easily embed it into web scripts or links and update it frequently, making defense much more challenging.
You can use these ransomware statistics to figure out if your cybersecurity posture is adequate, whether you’re at risk of experiencing an attack and how much an attack would cost you. This way, you have a better idea of how to organize your defenses.
