Ransomware attacks are increasing and getting more sophisticated than ever. Read on to find out facts and statistics for these attacks and what you can do to prevent them.
Ransomware attacks continue to increase in frequency and sophistication year after year. With advancements in technology, cybercriminals now have more tools at their disposal, and organizations of all sizes remain vulnerable to these types of attacks.
The shift to remote work and reliance on cloud-based platforms has made organizations more susceptible to ransomware breaches, as they open additional attack vectors. Ransomware is not only growing in volume, but it's also becoming more sophisticated, with advanced AI-driven tools used by cybercriminals to bypass traditional security measures.
Ransomware is a form of cybercrime committed through the use of malicious software, known as malware. The objective of ransomware attackers is to either trick you into downloading this software or to find a preexisting point of entry into a computer network to plant the virus secretly. Once this malware has infiltrated your IT network, attackers will then encrypt private information so that you cannot access it unless you pay a certain amount of money.
Unfortunately, this form of cybercrime has become increasingly popular in 2025. The statistics say a lot about how ransomware attacks will grow into 2026, as well, so breaking down this number is vital to improving your data protection and cybersecurity.
The financial impact of ransomware continues to rise dramatically. In 2025, global ransomware damage costs are projected to reach $57 billion annually. This equates to $156 million per day, or $2,400 per second. These staggering figures highlight the threat ransomware poses to organizations worldwide (Cybersecurity Ventures, 2025).
Additionally, the total costs associated with ransomware, including ransom payments, downtime, recovery, and reputational damage, are expected to increase. By 2031, ransomware is projected to cost more than $20 billion per month, up from an estimated $20 billion per year in 2021 (Cybersecurity Ventures, 2025).
In addition to the direct financial damages, organizations face long-term costs related to reputational damage and loss of customer trust, which can often be more harmful than the immediate financial repercussions of an attack itself.
Certain industries remain more vulnerable to ransomware attacks, primarily due to their value and the sensitivity of their data. Key sectors affected by ransomware include:
Ransomware attacks against vital infrastructure have continued to rise, with industries such as gas pipelines, energy providers, and water treatment plants increasingly targeted. These organizations remain prime targets not only because they can afford to pay ransoms, but also because their failure would cause significant disruption to public services.
In fact, 28% of all ransomware attacks targeted critical infrastructure sectors, underlining the growing trend of cybercriminals focusing on sectors essential to national security (Verizon, 2025). Ransomware is also becoming a tool for state-sponsored actors aiming to cripple economic and governmental operations
Healthcare organizations are increasingly becoming targets of ransomware, driven by the urgent need to access critical data, medical records, and patient information. Hospitals and healthcare facilities are still highly vulnerable, as many struggle with outdated IT systems and insufficient cybersecurity resources.
By mid-2025, 54% of all healthcare organizations had reported ransomware attacks, a significant rise from previous years (Verizon, 2025). These breaches have continued to cause severe operational disruption and data loss, putting patient care at risk. The $115,000 average ransom payment for healthcare organizations highlights the financial toll on an industry already strained by rising costs and the complexity of managing sensitive data (Verizon, 2025).
State and local government organizations remain frequent targets for ransomware attacks. In 2024, 34% of state and local government organizations were hit by ransomware, marking a significant reduction from 69% in 2023. While these figures reflect a decrease in attack rates, the impact on organizations remains substantial, with the average recovery cost reaching $2.83 million in 2024 (Sophos, 2024).
The nature of government operations—often dealing with critical infrastructure, citizen data, and public services—makes them highly attractive targets for ransomware groups seeking financial gain or political leverage. As threats become more sophisticated, governments are now under pressure to strengthen their cybersecurity frameworks and develop incident response plans.
The nature of government operations—often dealing with critical infrastructure, citizen data, and public services—makes them highly attractive targets for ransomware groups seeking financial gain or political leverage. As threats become more sophisticated, governments are now under pressure to strengthen their cybersecurity frameworks and develop incident response plans.
Ransomware payouts have surged significantly, with the average ransom demand reaching approximately $2.2 million in 2024 (Sophos, 2024). This increase highlights the growing complexity and scale of ransomware attacks.
Organizations of all sizes are falling victim to cybercriminals demanding exorbitant sums to decrypt critical files and restore access to data. Smaller businesses remain particularly vulnerable, as 88% of all ransomware incidents involve these organizations, many of which are underprepared and lack the necessary cybersecurity measures to mitigate such attacks (Verizon, 2025).
Ransomware attacks are becoming more complex, with advanced tactics such as double extortion (data encryption and public release) and the use of AI-driven malware.
In the 4th quarter of 2024, phishing accounted for a significant portion of cyberattacks, with sectors like SAAS/Webmail and social media being the most targeted (APWG Report, 2024).
Critical infrastructure sectors, including retail, healthcare, and education, continue to be prime targets for ransomware attacks (Mimecast).
88% of all ransomware data breaches in the past year were small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) (Verizon, 2025).
Ransomware attacks now target AI-driven systems, making them a new and lucrative target for cybercriminals.
As discussed in the last section, ransomware attackers will use their software through specific methods known as “attack vectors.” These attack vectors work differently depending on the scale of the company and the software the attacker uses.
Phishing is the use of impersonating authorities, bosses, or experts through email or phone to gain access to valuable personal information which can then be used to infiltrate an IT network. Phishing attacks are a popular attack method for larger-scale companies, as their larger number of employees means it’s more likely that one of them will fall victim to a subtle phishing campaign.
Remote desk protocol is a feature of Microsoft computers that allows two computers connected to the same IT network to communicate with each other. Unfortunately, the nature of this software opens up vulnerabilities to ransomware attacks, which is a popular technique for criminals targeting smaller companies and individuals.
Unpatched or un-upgraded software can leave the door wide open to cybercrime, as ransomware attackers are experienced in finding exploits in commonly used software that companies have not put the resources and time into upgrading. While this is the least common form of cyberattack, it has still increased in frequency for larger companies in recent years.
As ransomware evolves, so must the strategies to defend against it. In 2026, businesses will face even more advanced and diversified attack methods. With the rise of Generative AI and more sophisticated malware delivery systems, cybercriminals are increasingly using artificial intelligence to create customized ransomware variants that can evade traditional detection systems. Moreover, attackers will continue to target supply chains, using vulnerabilities within vendor networks to gain access to larger organizations.
Organizations must prioritize cyber resilience to effectively counter ransomware threats in 2026. This means not only having strong prevention and detection systems in place but also investing in rapid recovery capabilities, robust employee training programs, and business continuity plans to minimize the financial impact and downtime in case of an attack.
Ransomware is involved in 37% of all cybersecurity breaches, and the number of ransomware incidents reported globally has more than doubled over the last five years.
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