In December 2024, they registered 574 Ransomware attacks, marking the month with the highest activity since the NCC Group, author of this study, began monitoring these threats in 2021. This record reflects a significant increase in the frequency and scale of attacks, which represents a growing challenge for organizations and global infrastructure.
An emerging group called 'Funksec’ led the malicious activities during this period, being responsible for the 18% of incidents. This extortion collective has quickly established itself as a key player in the cyberattack ecosystem, demonstrating the constant evolution of threats in the cybersecurity landscape.
The industrial sector was the most affected, representing the 24% of total attacks. This underscores the vulnerability of critical infrastructure, a recurring target for cybercriminals due to its strategic importance. Geographically, North America concentrated the 52% of incidents, followed by Europe with the 18% and Asia with a notable increase by reaching the 16%.
The increase in ransomware activity highlights the need to strengthen cybersecurity measures across all sectors. Organizations should prioritize training their staff, Invest in advanced protection technologies and stay alert to evolving threats to mitigate the impact of future attacks.
Fountain: NCC Group