“The manufacturing, healthcare, and technology sectors were the top targets of ransomware attacks, while the energy sector experienced a 500% year-over-year spike as critical infrastructure and susceptibility to operational disruptions make it particularly attractive to cybercriminals,” the report said. “The energy sector experienced a 527.27% year-over-year increase in ransomware attacks, likely due to its critical nature and the high ransom potential it offers to attackers.”

The report listed the most prolific ransomware groups today, with the largest being LockBit (988 identified attacks), BlackCat (410), 8Base (352), Play (345), Clop (291), BianLian (268), Akira (224), Black Basta (202), Medusa (169), and NoEscape (126). 

It also noted what it described as the “newest ransomware groups on the scene”: Cloak, RansomHub, and Slug, which all surfaced this year.