Global Malware Attacks Surge by 70%: Cybersecurity Trends Unveiled

BlackBerry Limited has unveiled its latest Quarterly Global Threat Intelligence Report, showcasing a notable 70 percent surge in emerging malware incidents detected by BlackBerry’s AI-driven cybersecurity solutions. This surge, equating to 26 cyberattacks per minute, underscores a heightened sophistication in tools and strategies employed by malicious actors, particularly as they set their sights on high-stakes and financially lucrative sectors.

Ismael Valenzuela, Vice President of Threat Research and Intelligence at BlackBerry, emphasized the escalating efforts of malicious actors to broaden the scope and frequency of cyber assaults. He noted, “The increasing prevalence of innovative attacks targeting nations and industries reflects the influence of the macroeconomic climate on cybersecurity. Despite the escalating diversity and volume of threats, our capacity to counteract them has also grown, thanks to advanced technologies enabling the prediction and prevention of attacks.”

Key insights from the latest BlackBerry Global Threat Intelligence Report, covering the June-August quarter, include:

1. Continued Surge in Cyberattacks: BlackBerry successfully thwarted over 3.3 million attacks, averaging 26 attacks and 2.9 distinct malware samples per minute.

2. Financial and Healthcare in the Crosshairs: The financial sector faced the highest frequency of attacks during the quarter, with healthcare institutions following closely. The attractiveness of high-value data and the potential to disrupt critical services make these sectors prime targets for impactful and lucrative attacks.

3. Double Extortion Tactics Become Standard: Ransomware groups like LockBit, Cl0p, Cuba, and ALPHV increasingly adopted double extortion tactics, using them as insurance in attacks. This trend emerged as organizations globally enhanced their data backup strategies.

4. Surge in Public Sector Attacks in Australia and the U.S.: Australia and the United States witnessed a notable increase of over 50 percent in public sector attacks this quarter. BlackBerry Cylance® AI demonstrated its efficacy in preventing the highest number of cyberattacks in the United States, followed by Canada, Japan, Peru, and India. The United States also led in the detection of the most unique malware, followed by Japan, South Korea, India, and Canada.

To delve deeper into the findings, interested individuals can download the complete BlackBerry Global Threat Intelligence Report from BlackBerry.com. Additionally, a Global Threat Intelligence Report Deep Dive webinar is scheduled for December 6th, providing an opportunity to gain further insights into the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats.