Check Point Research (CPR) releases new data on Q2 2024 cyber attack trends. The data is segmented by global volume, industry, and geography.
These cyber attack numbers were driven by a variety of reasons, ranging from the continued increase in digital transformation and the growing sophistication of cybercriminals using advanced techniques like AI and machine learning.
Need for robust cyber security
Economic motivation for income from attacks like ransomware and phishing as well as attacks fueled by geopolitical tensions and supply chain vulnerabilities continues to heavily impact this rise in the numbers.
This increase in global cyberattacks also stems from hacker interest in Education and Research, which saw the largest increase in cyber attacks in Q2 2024, when compared to all other industries. CPR warns that these factors can continue to accelerate the number of cyber attacks in 2024, driving the need for robust cyber security across all industries.
Key statistics
- In Q2 2024, Check Point Research saw a 30% YoY increase in cyber attacks globally, reaching 1,636 attacks per organisation per week.
- The top 3 most attacked industries were Education/Research (3,341 attacks per week), Government/Military (2,084 attacks per week), and Healthcare (1,999 attacks per week).
- Latin America, (+53%), Africa (+37%), and Europe (+35%) showed the largest increases in cyber attacks in Q2 2024, compared YoY.
- Africa experienced the highest volume of attacks with 2,960 weekly attacks per organisation, followed by Latin America with 2,667 weekly attacks per organisation.
- North America accounted for 58% of publicly extorted ransomware attack victims. The Manufacturing sector represented 29% of the published ransomware victims globally, marking a 56% year-over-year increase.
Cyber-attacks
The relentless onslaught of attacks underscores the growing sophistication and persistence of threat actors
Cyber-attacks are increasing worldwide, with a 30% increase in weekly attacks on corporate networks in Q2 2024 compared to Q2 2023, and a 25% rise compared to Q1 2024.
With an average of 1,636 attacks per organisation per week, the relentless onslaught of attacks underscores the growing sophistication and persistence of threat actors. Several cyber threat trends are all happening at once.
Target for cybercriminals
Education and research industry
For instance, the education and research industry has consistently been a prime target for cybercriminals due to its wealth of sensitive information and often inadequate cyber security measures made further complex by multiple groups of online users within and outside of the network expanding the attack vector surface.
The education/research sector was the number one most attacked industry globally, seeing a 53% increase in Q2 2024 compared to Q2 2023, with an average of 3,341 attacks per organisation every week.
Government/Military
Government/Military was the second most attacked sector with 2,084 attacks per week, reflecting the high stakes involved in state-level cyber espionage and disruption.
Looking back at cyber attacks for the Healthcare sector in Q2, healthcare organisations saw an average of 1,999 weekly attacks per organisation, which was 15% higher than last year. Hackers like to target hospitals because they perceive them as short on cyber security resources with smaller hospitals particularly vulnerable, as they are underfunded and understaffed to handle a sophisticated cyber attack.
Healthcare and hardware vendor industry
The Hardware Vendor industry experienced the largest increase in attacks, with a dramatic rise of 183%
Ranking third out of all sectors for the most cyber attacks globally, healthcare is so lucrative to hackers because they aim to retrieve health insurance information, medical records numbers, and, sometimes, even social security numbers.
Furthermore, the Hardware Vendor industry experienced the largest increase in attacks, with a dramatic rise of 183%. This surge underscores the expanding target range of cyber criminals as they seek to exploit vulnerabilities across various sectors.
Regional analysis of cyber attacks
Regionally, Africa experienced the highest average weekly cyberattacks per organisation in Q2 2024, with an average of 2,960 attacks, marking a 37% increase compared to the same period in 2023.
Latin America saw the most significant rise, with attacks increasing by 53% year-over-year to an average of 2,667 per week. The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region followed with a 23% increase, highlighting the global spread of cyber threats.
| Region | Avg weekly attacks per org | YoY Change |
| Africa | 2960 | +37% |
| Latin America | 2667 | +53% |
| APAC | 2510 | +23% |
| Europe | 1367 | +35% |
| North America | 1188 | +17% |
Ransomware attacks per region and industry
In Q2 2024, ransomware attacks that involved public extortion were reported showing a 13% year-over-year increase, totaling approximately 1,200 incidents. North America was the hardest hit, comprising 58% of all reported ransomware attacks, despite a slight 3% decrease from the previous year.
Europe experienced 19% of the incidents, marking a notable 28% decrease, while the APAC region saw the largest increase with a 38% surge, accounting for 16% of the attacks.
| Region | Percent of Published Ransomware Attacks | YoY Change in Number of Published Attacks |
| North America | 58% | -3% |
| Europe | 19% | -28% |
| APAC | 16% | +38% |
| Latin America | 6% | +1% |
| Africa | 1% | -55% |
Industry impact
In terms of industry impact, the Manufacturing sector was the most affected, representing 29% of publicly extorted ransomware attacks’ victims globally, with a significant 56% year-over-year increase.
The Healthcare sector followed, accounting for 11% of the attacks and experiencing a 27% increase. The Retail/Wholesale industry saw 9% of the attacks, with a notable 34% decrease from the previous year. Notably, the Communications and Utilities sectors experienced dramatic rises in ransomware incidents, with increases of 177% and 186%, respectively.
| Industry | Percent of Published Ransomware Attacks | YoY Change in Number of Published Attacks |
| Manufacturing | 29% | +56% |
| Healthcare | 11% | +27% |
| Retail/Wholesale | 9% | -34% |
| Finance/Banking | 7% | -8% |
| Education/Research | 6% | -3% |
| Software vendor | 6% | -57% |
| Government/Military | 6% | +31% |
| Transportation | 6% | +40% |
| Insurance/Legal | 5% | -25% |
| Communications | 5% | +177% |
| Leisure/Hospitality | 3% | +0% |
| Consultant | 2% | -76% |
| Utilities | 2% | +186% |
| Energy | 1% | -25% |
Tips for prevention and mitigation
Organisations must take proactive steps to safeguard their data and systems. Here are some strategies inspired by best practices from Check Point Software:
- Enhance Security Posture: Regularly update and patch systems to close vulnerabilities. Multi-layered security measures, including firewalls and endpoint protection, are essential.
- Employee Training and Awareness: Regular training sessions can educate employees about the latest cyber threats and phishing tactics, fostering a culture of vigilance.
- Advanced Threat Prevention: Utilise technologies such as sandboxing and anti-ransomware tools to detect and block sophisticated attacks.
- Adopt Zero Trust Architecture: Implement strict identity verification for every person and device attempting to access network resources.
- Regular Backups and Incident Response Planning: Ensure regular backups of critical data and develop comprehensive incident response plans to quickly address and mitigate the impact of attacks.
- Network Segmentation: Isolate critical systems to limit the spread of attacks and protect sensitive information.
- Vulnerability Management: Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing, prioritising remediation efforts based on potential impact.
Customised strategies
The dramatic rise in cyber-attacks globally, particularly ransomware incidents, signals an urgent need for robust cybersecurity frameworks. Organisations must prioritise cyber security, adopting customised strategies to effectively combat the evolving threat landscape.
By implementing advanced security measures, fostering a culture of awareness, and preparing for potential incidents, businesses can better defend against the relentless tide of cyber threats. The time to act is before the next wave of attacks strikes.
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