In the First Half of 2026, Ransomware Attacks Rose 20 Percent

Hackers leaned further into ransomware in the second quarter of 2026, with a surge of new attacks led by two competing ransomware-as-a-service groups.

A new report from NordStellar found that ransomware incidents were up 20 percent year over year in the first half of 2026, with 5,275 recorded attacks. The second quarter alone saw 2,581 incidents.

The number of ransomware attacks saw a slight 4 percent decrease in the second quarter compared to the first three months of the year, but cybersecurity officials say businesses and individuals should still keep their guard up.

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