Number of cyber-attacks increases with 38% in 2022
The number of cyber-attacks increased by 38% in 2022 according to Check Point Research. Attacks peaked in the fourth quarter, with education/research, government/military, and healthcare sectors being most affected. Trends included evolving ransomware tactics, targeting business collaboration tools for phishing, and a rise in attacks on academic institutions.
According to data released by Check Point Research, the number of cyber-attacks recorded globally in 2022 was nearly two-fifths (38%) higher than the total volume observed in 2021. Attacks peaked in the fourth quarter of 2022, with an average of 1168 weekly attacks per organisation. The sectors most affected by cyber-attacks were education/research (2314 average weekly cyber-attacks), government/military (1661), and healthcare (1463). The highest volume of attacks was recorded in Africa (1875 weekly attacks per organisation), followed by Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Europe, and North America.
Check Point Research also indicated several trends observed during 2022: (a) the ransomware ecosystem continuously evolving, with smaller and more agile criminal groups; (b) hackers widening their aim to target business collaboration tools such as Slack and Teams with phishing exploits; (c) academic institutions becoming a popular target for cybercriminals.