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   US businesses are the top target for ransomware in 2025 so far   
      
   Date:   
   Thu, 10 Apr 2025 15:00:00 +0000   
      
   Description:   
   SMBs in manufacturing are particularly hit, although IT and services aren't   
   faring much better.   
      
   FULL STORY   
      
   So far in 2025, US businesses were prime targets for ransomware attackers,   
   taking up almost half of all incidents of that nature this year, according to   
   a new report from threat exposure management platform NordStellar, whose   
   researchers analyzed dark web data to compile the Q1 2025 statistics.    
      
   As per the report, there were 2,440 new ransomware cases made public on the   
   dark web, up 84% compared to the same period in 2024 (1,325). Of that number,   
   990 (41%) were US businesses.    
      
   That makes the United States the most affected country globally by far, since   
   second-placed Canada had only 105 cases. The UK is third with 74, followed by   
   Germany (56), France (42), and India (42).    
      
   Manufacturing, IT, professional services   
      
   According to NordStellars cybersecurity expert Vakaris Noreika, this is   
   because the US has plenty of rich business targets: A high concentration of   
   wealthy businesses with cyber insurance that includes ransom coverage make    
   the US a desirable target for hackers, Noreika explained.    
      
   The economy of the US is highly digitalized and most businesses depend on   
   interconnected systems, cloud technologies, and remote work environments  all   
   factors that create more opportunities for ransomware attacks to infiltrate.    
      
   Ransomware criminals seem to be particularly interested in businesses in   
   manufacturing, since this industry recorded 273 cases. IT was second with 172   
   cases, and professional services was third with 116. Surprisingly enough,   
   these are mostly SMBs, not enterprises. Companies with a revenue of $10M-50M,   
   employing 51-200 people, were most-hit in Q1.    
      
   Ransomware continues being one of the most destructive and disruptive   
   cybercriminal operations out there. Every day the threat grows, as   
   cybercriminals find new ways to deploy encryptors and abuse AI in their   
   attacks.   
      
   The soaring number of ransomware attacks is more than just a trend  it's an   
   ever-growing threat for businesses worldwide, Noreika said. Ransomware groups   
   are getting more sophisticated, exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities faster,   
   and leveraging ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) to expand their reach. Many   
   organizations still struggle with unpatched systems and weak credential   
   security, thus, becoming easy targets. No business, regardless of size, is   
   immune.   
      
   ======================================================================   
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/us-businesses-are-the-top-target-for-ra   
   nsomware-in-2025-so-far   
      
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