Conti and LockBit dominate ransomware landscape with record attacks
Industrial firms remain the top ransomware targets as attacks become more sophisticated and damaging to critical infrastructure.
Ransomware groups have evolved into billion-dollar operations targeting critical infrastructure across multiple countries, employing increasingly sophisticated extortion schemes. Between 2020 and 2022, more than 865 documented attacks were recorded across Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK.
Criminals have escalated from simple encryption to double and triple extortion, threatening to leak stolen data as added leverage. Attack vectors include phishing, botnets, and unpatched flaws. Once inside, attackers use stealthy tools to persist and spread.
BlackSuit, formerly known as Conti, led with 141 attacks, followed by LockBit’s 129, according to data from the Australian Institute of Criminology. Ransomware-as-a-Service groups hit higher volumes by splitting developers from affiliates handling breaches and negotiations.
Industrial targets bore the brunt, with 239 attacks on manufacturing and building products. The consumer goods, real estate, financial services, and technology sectors also featured prominently. Analysts note that industrial firms are often pressured into quick ransom payments to restore production.
Experts warn that today’s ransomware combines military-grade encryption with advanced reconnaissance and backup targeting, raising the stakes for defenders. The scale of activity underscores how resilient these groups remain, adapting rapidly to law enforcement crackdowns and shifting market opportunities.
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