Ransomware Spreads Faster, Not Smarter
HelpNet Security, Wednesday, May 14th, 2025
The fall of two of the most dominant ransomware syndicates, LockBit and AlphV, triggered a power vacuum across the cybercriminal landscape, acccording to a Black Kite survey.
In their place, dozens of new actors emerged, many of them lacking the infrastructure, discipline, or credibility of their predecessors. The result was a surge in attack volume, a decline in coordination, and growing unpredictability in how, where, and why attacks occur.
Ransomware landscape shift
The number of publicly disclosed ransomware victims reached 6,046 in 2025, marking a 24% increase compared to 4,893 in the previous year. This represents a significant rise from 2023, when the figure stood at 2,708-more than doubling over the span of just two years.