Largest increase in cyber attacks in the last two years. Lockbit3 was the top ransomware in the first half of 2023. On average, attacks per week have increased by 8 percent.
Recently, Check Point Research (CPR) released its 2023 Mid-Year Security Report. The report reveals a disturbing eight percent increase in weekly cyber attacks worldwide in the second quarter of 2023 - the largest increase in the past two years.
Attackers are mixing old and new forms of cybercrime
The security researchers examine how attackers are cleverly combining next-generation AI technology with well-known tools such as USB devices to carry out new types of attacks. The report also shows how ransomware attacks escalated in the first half of the year as new ransomware groups emerged.
From the triple extortion attack on the University of Manchester to the rise of the new group Anonymous Sudan targeting Western organizations, the Mid-Year Security Report uncovers the trends and behavior that have defined the year so far.
Key findings from the Mid-Year Security Report:
- Ransomware gangs have stepped up their game as they exploit vulnerabilities in commonly used corporate software and shifted their approach from data encryption to data theft.
- USB devices have once again become a significant threat, with both government groups and hackers using USB drives to infect organizations worldwide.
- Hacker activism (hacktivism) has increased, with politically motivated groups launching attacks on selected targets.
- Misuse of artificial intelligence has increased, with generative AI tools being used to create phishing emails, keyloggers, and simple ransomware code. This requires stricter lockdowns and rules.
Manufacturing sector and retail preferred targets
In the first half of 2023, 48 ransomware groups attacked more than 2200 victims, with Lockbit3 being very active and causing a 20 percent increase in the number of victims compared to the first half of 2022. The emergence of new groups such as Royal and Play is linked to the dissolution of ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) groups Hive and Conti. Geographically, 45 percent of victims are located in the United States, with an unexpected increase in Russian organizations due to the new MalasLocker malware, which replaces ransom demands with charitable donations. Most victims were in the manufacturing and retail sectors, indicating a shift in ransomware attack strategy.
The security report's findings are based on data from the Check Point ThreatCloud Cyber-Threat Map, which examines the key tactics hackers use to carry out their attacks.
Go directly to the report on CheckPoint.com
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.
Matching articles on the topic