Check Point Research (CPR) has released new data on Q2 2024 cyber attack trends. This shows that there has been a 30% growth in cyber attacks around the world compared to the same period in 2023. There were significant regional differences, with the areas seeing the largest growth in cyber attacks being Latin America, (+53%), Africa (+37%), and Europe (+35%).
The three most attacked industries were education/research, government/military, and healthcare.
Ransomware attacks per region and industry
In Q2 2024, ransomware attacks that involved public extortion were reported showing a 13% year-over-year increase, totalling approximately 1,200 incidents. North America was the hardest hit, comprising 58% of all reported ransomware attacks, despite a slight 3% decrease from the previous year. Europe experienced 19% of the incidents, marking a notable 28% decrease, while the APAC region saw the largest increase with a 38% surge, accounting for 16% of the attacks.
In terms of industry impact, the manufacturing sector was the most affected, representing 29% of publicly extorted ransomware attacks’ victims globally, with a significant 56% year-over-year increase. The healthcare sector followed, accounting for 11% of the attacks and experiencing a 27% increase. The retail/wholesale industry saw 9% of the attacks, with a 34% decrease from the previous year. Notably, the communications and utilities sectors experienced dramatic rises in ransomware incidents, with increases of 177% and 186%, respectively.
