Europe Becomes Top Ransomware Target as Attacks Surge 55% in Early 2026
By
Nate Nelson
Summary
After a global lull in ransomware activity in 2024-2025, Europe has become the primary target for ransomware attacks in 2026. Black Kite researchers tracked 684 ransomware attacks across Europe in the first four months of 2026 — a 55% increase over the same period in 2025. The article examines how ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) gangs are shifting focus to European organizations and their supply chains, exploiting regulatory complexity, fragmented cybersecurity postures across EU member states, and the rich target landscape of European businesses and institutions.
Source
bskyEurope Becomes Top Ransomware Target as Attacks Surge 55% in Early 2026darkreading.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledA specter is haunting Europe — the specter of ransomware.
Globally, the US absorbs almost half of all ransomware victims. Canada and the UK have traded second place. Europe was a st
After a global lull in 2024 and 2025, the ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) ecosystem appears to be back to form, at least in Europe.
You might also wanna read
January 2026: Global Telnet Traffic Plummets 59% in Apparent Botnet Takedown
On January 14, 2026, GreyNoise Labs observed a dramatic 59% sustained reduction in global telnet traffic, with 18 ASNs going completely sile
labs.greynoise.io·4mo ago
EU Commission Plans New 'Going Dark' Initiative to Access Encrypted Data by 2026, Potentially Including VPN Services
The article discusses the European Commission's failed attempt to pass Chat Control 2.0 legislation that would have allowed access to end-to
mastodon.online·6mo ago
Investigating the Identity Behind the Ransomware Group 'The Gentlemen'
A cybercrime group called The Gentlemen has become the second most active ransomware gang by victim count, using an aggressive recruitment s
Ransomware Is Growing Three Times Faster Than the Spending Meant to Stop It
Kaspersky Researchers Document New Infection Chains and IoCs in Notepad++ Supply Chain Attack
Kaspersky GReAT experts discovered previously undocumented infection chains used in the Notepad++ supply chain attack that occurred from Jun
securelist.com·4mo ago
Comments
Sign in to join the conversation.
No comments yet. Be the first.