2023 Cyberwar, cyberattack, ransomware statistics for the year
In 2023, the frequency of ransomware attacks has increased significantly compared to previous years. According to Corvus Insurance's Q3 2023 Global Ransomware Report, ransomware attacks increased by more than 95% over 2022, with Q3 2023 global ransomware attack frequency up 11% over Q2[1]. This trend indicates that ransomware attacks continue to grow at a record-breaking pace. The number of ransomware victims in 2023 has already surpassed what was observed for 2021 and 2022, and if the trajectory continues, the number of ransomware attacks in 2023 will be significantly higher than in previous years[1].
Citations:
[1] https://www.darkreading.com/cyberattacks-data-breaches/2023-ransomware-attacks-up-more-than-95-over-2022-according-to-corvus-insurance-q3-report
[2] https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/ransomware-statistics
[3] https://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/100035-manufacturing-is-the-top-industry-affected-by-ransomware-in-2023
[4] https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/44987/the-state-of-ransomware-in-the-u-s-report-and-statistics-2023/
[5] https://www.bcs.org/articles-opinion-and-research/the-biggest-cyber-attacks-of-2023/
[6] https://www.cshub.com/attacks/news/top-cyber-security-incidents-september-23
[7] https://www.crn.com/news/security/10-major-cyberattacks-and-data-breaches-in-2023
[8] https://purplesec.us/security-insights/data-breaches/
[9] https://cybersecurityventures.com/cybersecurity-almanac-2023/
In 2023, cyber war, cyber attacks, and ransomware attacks continued to pose significant threats to businesses and governments worldwide. Some notable statistics and situations include:
- The global average cost of a data breach in 2023 was USD 4.45 million, a 15% increase over 3 years[5].
- Ransomware attacks increased by more than 95% over 2022, with Q3 2023 global ransomware attack frequency up 11% over Q2[6].
- Cybercrime is predicted to inflict damages totaling USD 8 trillion globally in 2023, making it the world's third-largest economy after the U.S. and China[8].
- 58% of nation-state cyberattacks originated from Russia, targeting government agencies and non-government organizations (NGOs) [2].
- Manufacturing accounted for 65% of industrial ransomware incidents in 2022[2].
- In 2023, 57% of healthcare organizations reported a ransomware attack within the past three years[9].
- Education, government, and healthcare were the top three sectors to experience ransomware attacks[9].
Some of the most common ransomware trends and attacks in 2022 included Stop/Djvu, WannaCry, and generic verdict trojans[9]. The top ransomware variants reported in August 2022 were Lockbit, BianLian, DON#T, IceFire, Vice Society, Hive, ALPHV, AvosLocker, LV, and Bl00dy[9].
These statistics and situations highlight the growing importance of cybersecurity measures and the need for organizations to stay vigilant against the ever-evolving threats posed by cybercriminals.
Citations:
[1] https://media.defense.gov/2023/Sep/12/2003299076/-1/-1/1/2023_DOD_Cyber_Strategy_Summary.PDF
[2] https://www.varonis.com/blog/cybersecurity-statistics
[3] https://www.emsisoft.com/en/blog/44987/the-state-of-ransomware-in-the-u-s-report-and-statistics-2023/
[4] https://www.cisa.gov/topics/cyber-threats-and-advisories/advanced-persistent-threats/russia
[5] https://www.ibm.com/reports/data-breach
[6] https://www.darkreading.com/cyberattacks-data-breaches/2023-ransomware-attacks-up-more-than-95-over-2022-according-to-corvus-insurance-q3-report
[7] https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3523199/dod-releases-2023-cyber-strategy-summary/
[8] https://cybersecurityventures.com/cybersecurity-almanac-2023/
[9] https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/ransomware-statistics
In 2023, several notable cyber attacks occurred, affecting various sectors and organizations worldwide. Some of the most significant attacks include:
- The Guardian Cyber Attack: On December 20, 2022, The Guardian newspaper in the UK was the subject of a ransomware attack, causing the company to ask staff to work remotely while internal systems were restored[1].
- Global Financial Network Breach: A deliberate assault on a global financial network resulted in the disruption of worldwide financial operations for an extended period[2].
- E-Voting System Hack: The increasing adoption of electronic voting systems by numerous nations led to concerns over the integrity of forthcoming electronic elections[2].
- Critical Infrastructure Attack: Cybercriminals targeted critical infrastructure, raising concerns about the security of essential services and systems[2].
- Smart Device Takeover: In a disconcerting incident, cyber attackers successfully assumed command of a multitude of intelligent domestic appliances, including thermostats and security cameras, sparking discussions over the security of Internet of Things (IoT) systems[2].
- DDoS Evolution: The occurrence of Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks escalated significantly, as evidenced by a prominent worldwide website encountering an unparalleled magnitude of network traffic[2].
- Tigo Data Breach: In July 2023, the video chat platform Tigo leaked more than 700,000 people's personal information[3].
- DarkBeam Data Breach: The largest data breach of 2023, with 3.8 billion breached records, affected DarkBeam[3].
These attacks highlight the growing importance of cybersecurity measures and the need for organizations to stay vigilant against the ever-evolving threats posed by cybercriminals.
Citations:
[1] https://www.bcs.org/articles-opinion-and-research/the-biggest-cyber-attacks-of-2023/
[2] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/top-10-cyber-attacks-2023-craw-security-crawsec
[3] https://www.itgovernance.co.uk/blog/list-of-data-breaches-and-cyber-attacks-in-2023
[4] https://cybersecurityventures.com/cybersecurity-almanac-2023/
[5] https://www.varonis.com/blog/cybersecurity-statistics
In 2023, the most common targets of cyber attacks included various sectors and organizations. Some of the most targeted sectors were:
- Financial Institutions: A deliberate assault on a global financial network resulted in the disruption of worldwide financial operations for an extended period[2].
- E-Voting Systems: The increasing adoption of electronic voting systems by numerous nations led to concerns over the integrity of forthcoming electronic elections[2].
- Critical Infrastructure: Cybercriminals targeted critical infrastructure, raising concerns about the security of essential services and systems[2].
- Smart Devices: In a disconcerting incident, cyber attackers successfully assumed command of a multitude of intelligent domestic appliances, including thermostats and security cameras, sparking discussions over the security of Internet of Things (IoT) systems[2].
- Healthcare Organizations: In 2023, 57% of healthcare organizations reported a ransomware attack within the past three years.
- Education, Government, and Healthcare: These sectors were the top three to experience ransomware attacks.
- Businesses: Ransomware attacks increased by more than 95% over 2022, with Q3 2023 global ransomware attack frequency up 11% over Q2.
These trends highlight the growing importance of cybersecurity measures and the need for organizations to stay vigilant against the ever-evolving threats posed by cybercriminals.
Citations:
[1] https://www.bcs.org/articles-opinion-and-research/the-biggest-cyber-attacks-of-2023/
[2] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/top-10-cyber-attacks-2023-craw-security-crawsec
[3] https://www.embroker.com/blog/top-cybersecurity-threats/
[4] https://cybersecurityventures.com/cybersecurity-almanac-2023/
[5] https://www.cshub.com/attacks/news/top-cyber-security-incidents-september-23
In 2023, the most common industries targeted by cyber attacks included:
- Manufacturing: The manufacturing industry experienced the highest number of cyber-attacks in 2021 and 2022, accounting for 23.2% of all reported attacks in 2021 and 24.8% in 2022[1].
- Finance and Insurance: Financial institutions were a prime target for cybercriminals, with a global financial network breach causing disruptions in worldwide financial operations[4].
- Professional, Business, and Consumer Services: This sector, which includes law firms, consulting firms, and other professional services, was also a significant target for cyber attacks[1].
- Energy: The energy industry, including oil and gas companies and power utilities, was another prime target for cybercriminals[1].
- Healthcare: Healthcare organizations were increasingly targeted by ransomware attacks, with 57% of them reporting a ransomware attack within the past three years[5].
- Education, Government, and Healthcare: These sectors were the top three to experience ransomware attacks[5].
These trends highlight the growing importance of cybersecurity measures and the need for organizations to stay vigilant against the ever-evolving threats posed by cybercriminals.
Citations:
[1] https://potomac.edu/industries-most-vulnerable-to-cyber-attack/
[2] https://cybersecurityventures.com/cybersecurity-almanac-2023/
[3] https://www.picussecurity.com/resource/blog/october-2023-regions-and-industries-at-risk
[4] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/top-10-cyber-attacks-2023-craw-security-crawsec
[5] https://www.embroker.com/blog/top-cybersecurity-threats/
In 2023, the most common types of ransomware used in attacks include:
- LockBit: LockBit has been the most prolific ransomware family, with a significant number of victims[1][2].
- ALPHV: Also known as BlackCat, ALPHV has been another major ransomware family in 2023[1][2].
- Malas: Malas has been a prominent ransomware family, targeting various industries and organizations[1].
- Cl0p: Cl0p has been a significant ransomware family, with a growing number of victims[1][2].
- Royal Ransomware: Royal Ransomware has been one of the top ransomware families in 2023, causing considerable damage to organizations[1].
These ransomware families have been responsible for a large number of attacks, with LockBit, ALPHV, and Cl0p being the most active[4]. The increasing sophistication and prevalence of ransomware attacks highlight the need for organizations to prioritize cybersecurity measures and stay vigilant against evolving threats.
Citations:
[1] https://www.cyfirma.com/outofband/ransomware-trends-h1-2023-part-1/
[2] https://www.domaintools.com/resources/blog/the-most-prolific-ransomware-families-2023-edition/
[3] https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/ransomware-statistics
[4] https://www.securitymagazine.com/articles/100035-manufacturing-is-the-top-industry-affected-by-ransomware-in-2023
[5] https://www.sangfor.com/blog/cybersecurity/list-of-top-ransomware-attacks-in-2023
In 2023, the most common payment methods used in ransomware attacks include:
- Bitcoin (BTC): Bitcoin remains the favored cryptocurrency for ransomware payments due to its anonymity and ease of use[1].
- Monero (XMR): Although less common, some threat actors have started requesting Monero as an alternative to Bitcoin. Monero's privacy-focused blockchain makes it harder to trace transactions, which may be appealing to cybercriminals[1].
These payment methods are used by cybercriminals to ensure anonymity and make it difficult for law enforcement agencies to trace the transactions.
Citations:
[1] https://netdiligence.com/blog/2023/12/how-ransomware-payments-have-evolved-in-2023/
[2] https://www.cyfirma.com/outofband/ransomware-trends-h1-2023-part-1/
[3] https://aag-it.com/the-latest-ransomware-statistics/
[4] https://www.sangfor.com/blog/cybersecurity/list-of-top-ransomware-attacks-in-2023
[5] https://invenioit.com/continuity/ransomware-attacks-finance/
