Ransomware remains one of the main threats to information security globally and in the Middle East, Turkey and African (META) region.
In 2022, the average cost of a ransomware attack was $4.54 million (according to IBM’s data breach report), and Kaspersky solutions detected over 74.2 million attempted ransomware attacks (20 per cent increase to 2021).
While the beginning of 2023 saw decline in the number of ransomware attacks, in Q2, some regions saw an upward trend.
According to Kaspersky Security Network data, in H1 2023, Nigeria saw a seven per cent increase in ransomware attack attempts on individual and corporate users, compared to H1 2022.
In Kenya, although there was a three per cent decrease, when comparing H1 2023 to H1 2022, there has been a two per cent increase, when comparing Q2 2023 to Q2 2022. All these attempts were blocked by Kaspersky solutions.
Kaspersky, which claimed to have blocked the attacks, noted that while ransomware numbers may fluctuate by season and region, it could not be overstated that they are becoming more sophisticated and targeted.
Ransomware attackers target all types of organisations, from healthcare and educational institutions to service and industrial enterprises.
Kaspersky explained that at the beginning of 2023, LockBit, one of the world’s most prolific ransomware groups, remained in the first place among the top five most influential and prolific ransomware groups. It added that REvil and Conti were replaced by Vice Society and BlackCat, stressing that the remaining ransomware groups that formed the top five at the beginning of 2023 were Clop and Royal.
Head of Kaspersky Global Research and Analysis Team (GReAT), Russia, Dmitry Galov, said: “Ransomware groups around the world continue to improve their techniques. Installing effective security solutions will likely draw ransomware groups away from an organisation. It is a necessary investment, as ransomware attacks can result in disastrous consequences such as permanent loss of information, disruption of business processes, loss of time, harm to reputation, and huge financial losses.”
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