Check Point's Threat Intelligence Research Division (CPR) has released its 2024 Annual Cyber Security Report. This year's edition focuses on the dramatic increase in ransomware attacks and the strategic use of AI in IT security.
The report looks back on a year marked by significant turmoil and highlights a 90 percent increase in publicly blackmailed victims of ransomware attacks. Such ransomware attacks now account for 10 percent of all malware detected by Check Point's sensors. The Check Point Incident Response Team (CPIRT) also found that almost half of the observed cases involved ransomware and came to the sobering conclusion: The number of publicly vilified victims rose to around 5000, doubling compared to the previous year.
Twice as many ransomware victims
🔎 Share of global victims of ransomware leaks per country, measured by mentions on “shame websites” (Image: Check Point).
4 percent of all organizations publicly blackmailed worldwide are located in Germany. The Federal Republic is in fourth place behind Canada (over four percent) and the United Kingdom (seven percent). All three are far behind the USA, which ranks first with 45 percent (see Figure 1). In a global analysis of the industries primarily affected by ransomware attacks, Check Point Threat Cloud data shows that the education, government and healthcare sectors are the top targets.
Key findings of the 2024 security report
Ransomware development: Attackers have refined their strategy, exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities and improving Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) with new extortion tactics. Lucrative targets are increasingly coming into the crosshairs, highlighting the need for robust defense mechanisms.
Attacks on edge devices: The report notes a growing trend in attacks on “edge devices” and highlights the need for comprehensive security measures that cover all network elements.
Rise in hacktivism: State-sponsored or politically motivated hacking has escalated, with a notable increase in cyber activity related to geopolitical conflicts. The use of destructive wipers to achieve maximum impact underscores the new nature of cyber warfare.
The Cyber Security Report 2024 serves to inform companies, political decision-makers and security experts. It provides insights into attack trends and provides guidance on strengthening cyber resilience. The results are based on data from the Check Point ThreatCloud AI Cyber-Threat Map, which examines the key tactics cyber criminals use to carry out their attacks.
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About check point Check Point Software Technologies GmbH (www.checkpoint.com/de) is a leading provider of cybersecurity solutions for public administrations and companies worldwide. The solutions protect customers from cyberattacks with an industry leading detection rate for malware, ransomware and other types of attacks. Check Point offers a multi-level security architecture that protects company information in cloud environments, networks and on mobile devices, as well as the most comprehensive and intuitive “one point of control” security management system. Check Point protects over 100.000 businesses of all sizes.