2023 saw a global rise in ransomware and hacktivism

A new report from threat intelligence company Intel 471 shows a global rise in ransomware and hacktivism. The report notes 4,429 ransomware attacks in 2023, almost double the 2,344 observed in 2022, with the most prominent variants being LockBit 3.0, ALPHV, CLOP, Play and 8BASE. North America saw a notable 125.3 percent increase in ransomware, followed by Europe with 67.7 percent, Asia with 46.8 percent, South America with 40.9 percent. Infostealers accounted for 21 percent of all malware-related offerings. This dominance is expected to persist into 2024 due to the efficiency, profitability and the low entry barrier it provides cybercriminals.… [Continue Reading]