Tag: ransomware attacks
29 articles
Ransomware Attacks Escalate with Threats of Physical Violence
Ransomware attacks just got a whole lot scarier: nearly a quarter now involve threats of physical violence or psychological intimidation targeting company employees, piling on the pressure to pay up. This sinister new tactic, dubbed "triple extortion," combines data theft, encryption, and personal threats to maximize the pain.
Warlock Ransomware Exploits SharePoint in Global Attacks
In a lightning-fast attack, the Warlock ransomware group exploited Microsoft SharePoint vulnerabilities to infect at least 40 hosts in just two hours, disabling endpoint protection and unleashing widespread chaos. This China-linked gang has been using a chain of zero-day exploits, including ToolShell, to gain initial access to on-premises SharePoint deployments.
Ryuk Ransomware Operative Draws 2-Year Prison Term
An Armenian man has been sentenced to 2 years in prison and 3 years of supervised release for his role in a string of devastating Ryuk ransomware attacks on US companies. He was found guilty of hacking and encrypting systems, causing significant disruption and financial loss.
Ransomware Attacks Surge in Manufacturing Sector
Ransomware attacks on manufacturing organizations are surging, with a staggering 22% of all victims coming from this sector over the past year, making it the most targeted industry for the fifth year in a row. This alarming trend shows a steady rise in attacks since 2022, with a significant spike in early 2026.
Medusa Ransomware Targets Over 500 Infrastructure Orgs, Expands Tactics
Medusa ransomware has hit a staggering 500+ critical infrastructure organizations, with healthcare being a prime target, as reported in a recent FBI advisory. The attacks are happening at an alarming rate, with exploitation windows as short as 24 hours or even less.
Medusa Ransomware Targets Over 500 US Critical Infrastructure Orgs
The Medusa ransomware gang has struck a staggering 500+ US critical infrastructure organizations across multiple sectors, including healthcare, defense, and finance, since June 2021. This alarming surge in attacks has prompted a joint warning from top US agencies, highlighting the urgent need for heightened cybersecurity measures.
Clop Ransomware Gang Crafts Custom Web Shell for Windchill Attacks
The Clop ransomware gang has taken its attacks to the next level by crafting a custom Java web shell that specifically targets PTC Windchill and FlexPLM servers, allowing them to harvest sensitive data with ease. This tailored tool is a significant evolution of their mass-exploitation tactics, making it a major concern for businesses using these applications.
Ransomware Attacks Singly Target Mid-Market Firms
Ransomware attacks are hitting mid-market firms with alarming frequency, and the threat is only escalating as AI-powered tools rapidly uncover new vulnerabilities at an overwhelming pace. Mid-market companies, with revenues between $10m and $1bn, now account for nearly three-quarters of ransomware attack victims.
Clop Ransomware Targets GE, Philips in Data Theft Attacks
Major companies like Philips, General Electric, and Shell are investigating claims by the Clop ransomware gang that their systems were breached, with Philips confirming a contained breach of an internal server that didn't affect customers. The incidents are a stark reminder of the growing threat of ransomware attacks on businesses.
Ransomware Attacks Pivot to Identity-Based Exploits
Ransomware attacks are taking a new and more personal approach, with a whopping 80% now targeting identities rather than software flaws. Malicious emails, phishing, and compromised credentials are the top entry points, making identity-based exploits the new favorite tactic of ransomware operators.
Ransomware Attacks Surge 20% as New Gangs Target Finance, Healthcare
Ransomware attacks are on the rise, surging 20% in July with a staggering 799 incidents reported, with finance, healthcare, and tech industries becoming prime targets for new gangs. The alarming increase marks the second-busiest month of the year so far, with the US leading the list of targeted countries.
Ransomware Attacks Spike 19% in July, Targeting Finance, Tech, and Healthcare
Ransomware attacks surged 19% in July, with 799 claimed incidents targeting key sectors like finance, tech, and healthcare. To stay safe, experts stress the importance of regular backups - and backups of those backups - to quickly restore systems and data in case of an attack.
Clop Ransomware Targets PTC Windchill in Data Theft Attacks
A critical vulnerability, CVE-2026-12569, with a near-perfect CVSS score of 9.3 is being exploited by Clop ransomware attackers to breach PTC Windchill and FlexPLM systems, putting sensitive data at risk. Security patches are available, but urgent action is needed to prevent data theft.
Ransomware Attacks Exploited Compromised Identities in 79% of Incidents
Ransomware attacks are often sparked by something surprisingly simple: 79% of incidents start with compromised identities, highlighting the vulnerability of legitimate user logins and credentials. This means that in nearly 8 out of 10 cases, attackers gain a foothold using stolen or hijacked identities rather than complex hacking techniques.
Qilin Ransomware Gang Exploits Palo Alto VPN Bug in Ongoing Attacks
The Qilin ransomware gang is actively exploiting a critical vulnerability in Palo Alto Networks' VPN software, CVE-2026-0257, to breach security and launch attacks, despite a patch being released on May 13. This alarming development follows reports of multiple intrusions by Qilin in June, highlighting the urgent need for updates.
Ransomware Attacks Surge Through Compromised Logins
Ransomware attacks are surging, with a staggering 79% of incidents linked to compromised identities and legitimate user logins, making it the most common entry point for hackers. This marks a significant shift away from traditional software flaw exploitation, now accounting for just 18% of initial attacks.
Citrix Bleed 2 Exploit Fuels Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware attacks are on the rise, fueled by a new exploit that has already made a significant impact, and now a major software company has ordered its customers to take critical systems offline due to a credible security threat. Progress has urged customers to shut down vulnerable Windows servers to prevent potential breaches.
Ransomware Operators Leverage AI for Autonomous Attacks
Meet JADEPUFFER, a pioneering threat actor that's harnessing AI to launch autonomous ransomware attacks - and adapting in real-time to get the job done. This groundbreaking tactic has been observed by researchers, who spotted JADEPUFFER's lightning-fast 31-second pivot from a failed login to a successful exploit.
Ransomware Attacks Targeted via Fake Interpol Emails
Beware of fake Interpol emails that could be ransomware traps! Cybercriminals are impersonating the law enforcement agency, sending unsolicited emails with suspicious links and password-protected files, trying to trick organizations into compromising their security.
Ransomware Attacks Surge Across Europe
Ransomware attacks are surging across Europe, with a staggering 55.1% year-over-year increase in just the first four months of 2026, averaging 171 incidents per month. Five key countries - Germany, the UK, France, Italy, and Spain - are bearing the brunt, accounting for 70% of all recorded attacks.
Ransomware Attacks Shift to Data Theft Tactics
Ransomware attacks have taken a sinister turn, with a growing number of hackers ditching decryption keys and instead using stolen data to extort their victims. In fact, a recent report found that a whopping 87% of ransomware claims now involve data theft, with encryption becoming a thing of the past.
Law Enforcement Disrupts First VPN Service Tied to Ransomware Attacks
In a major cybercrime crackdown, law enforcement agencies have dismantled a notorious VPN service used by ransomware attackers, seizing 33 servers and taking its domains offline in a coordinated operation across 27 countries. The takedown of First VPN, a so-called "no-logs" provider, has dealt a significant blow to threat actors behind ransomware and data theft campaigns.
MuddyWater Exploits Microsoft Teams in False Flag Ransomware Attacks
MuddyWater hackers are impersonating Chaos ransomware affiliates, using clever social engineering tactics via Microsoft Teams to steal credentials and gain access to sensitive systems. Their sophisticated campaign involves interactive screen-sharing and manipulation of multi-factor authentication.
Cybersecurity Experts Imprisoned for Ransomware Extortion Scheme
Two American cybersecurity experts, Ryan Goldberg and Kevin Martin, have been sentenced to prison for their roles in a brazen 2023 ransomware campaign that targeted companies across the United States. Their crimes have brought to light the severe consequences of cyberattacks and the importance of protecting businesses from such threats.