Ransomware & Malware Statistics 2025–26: Global Threat Trends & Cybersecurity Insights

In today’s hyperconnected digital landscape, two terms continue to dominate cybersecurity headlines in 2025: ransomware and malware. While these threats have evolved over decades, their impact has intensified—affecting everything from personal smartphones to critical infrastructure networks.

But what exactly are these threats?

• Malware (short for malicious software) is a broad category that includes viruses, worms, trojans, spyware, adware, and more—designed to infiltrate, damage, or steal data from digital systems.

• Ransomware is a subset of malware that encrypts a victim’s files and demands payment—usually in cryptocurrency—to restore access. Modern strains often include double extortion tactics, where data is not only encrypted but also threatened with public exposure.

Why Are Ransomware and Malware Still Major Threats in 2025?

Despite years of advancement in cybersecurity tools and awareness, ransomware and malware continue to pose one of the most serious global threats. Why?

• Cybercriminals are more organized than ever, leveraging Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) models and AI-powered evasion techniques.

• Attack surfaces are expanding with hybrid workforces, IoT devices, and mobile endpoints now more prevalent than ever.

• Organizations still struggle with patch management, employee training, and protecting remote assets—creating vulnerabilities that threat actors eagerly exploit.

In 2025 alone, malware-based attacks have surged across all verticals, from healthcare and finance to education and manufacturing. Ransomware groups continue to exploit geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty to launch targeted, profitable attacks.

Why Malware & Ransomware Statistics Matter

Understanding the latest statistics and threat patterns is essential for:

• CISOs and IT leaders, who must justify cybersecurity budgets and implement risk-based strategies.

• Policy makers and regulators, who shape data protection laws and cross-border threat responses.

• SMBs and enterprises, who are now just as likely as large corporations to be hit by ransomware.

• Consumers and employees, who need awareness to avoid phishing, malicious downloads, and unsafe links.

TL;DR – Key Malware & Ransomware Stats for 2025

A quick snapshot of the most critical malware and ransomware trends shaping global cybersecurity in 2025.

• Ransomware attacks increased by 19% year-over-year, reaching over 783 million attempted incidents globally.

• 42% of all cyberattacks in 2025 involved ransomware as the primary threat vector.

• The average ransom demand rose to $1.72 million, up from $1.35 million in 2024.

• Only 38% of ransomware victims recovered data from backups, while 52% paid the ransom.

• Global damages from ransomware are expected to surpass $30 billion USD in 2025, compared to $24.3 billion in 2024.

• Malware infections grew by 26%, with over 12.6 billion malware events recorded worldwide.

• Fileless malware attacks increased by 33%, targeting endpoint detection blind spots.

• 92% of ransomware was delivered via email phishing, with attachments and malicious links being the most common payloads.

• Healthcare, education, and government remained the top three most targeted sectors by ransomware operators.

• Mobile malware infections rose by 44%, particularly on Android platforms.

• 94% of organizations reported at least one malware or ransomware attempt in 2025, but only 61% had full endpoint protection deployed.

Ransomware Attack Volume in 2025

Ransomware continues to dominate the cyber threat landscape in 2025, with attackers growing bolder and more specialized. Fueled by Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS), cryptocurrency laundering, and supply chain vulnerabilities, global ransomware activity has reached new highs.

Total Number of Ransomware Incidents in 2025

According to recent threat intelligence reports:

• There were over 783 million ransomware attack attempts recorded globally in 2025, up from 658 million in 2024.

• That represents a 19% year-over-year (YoY) increase in ransomware-related activity.

• On average, 1 ransomware attack attempt occurred every 40 seconds worldwide.

Despite advances in detection and response, attackers continue to bypass traditional defenses using phishing, zero-day exploits, and stolen credentials.

Sectors Most Targeted by Ransomware in 2025

Certain industries remain disproportionately targeted due to high-value data and weaker cybersecurity infrastructure:

• The healthcare sector faced the steepest rise in attacks, with some ransomware incidents delaying emergency medical procedures.

• Financial institutions remained key targets for data extortion and business disruption.

• Educational systems—especially universities and K–12 institutions—were hit hard due to limited security budgets and legacy systems.

Most Targeted Countries & Regions

Ransomware is a global threat, but certain regions continue to be targeted more aggressively:

• The United States remains the top target, with a surge in attacks against critical infrastructure, local governments, and SMBs.

• European countries faced increasing pressure from ransomware gangs leveraging GDPR fines to force ransom payments.

• In the Asia-Pacific region, attacks were more diverse, with growth in ransomware tied to geopolitical tensions and industrial espionage.

📌 Insight: Ransomware groups are now more selective, often scanning targets for cyber insurance coverage before launching attacks to maximize payouts.

Malware Infection Trends in 2025

Malware remains one of the most persistent and evolving cybersecurity threats in 2025, with both traditional and modern attack vectors surging in complexity and volume. Organizations and users alike face a widening variety of malware strains designed to evade detection, exfiltrate data, and exploit cloud, mobile, and endpoint environments.

Malware Detections by Type in 2025

Cybersecurity vendors report billions of malware detections across diverse categories:

• Trojans remain the dominant malware type, often embedded in fake software downloads, malicious emails, or pirated media.

• Fileless malware has surged by 33%, leveraging in-memory techniques to bypass traditional antivirus solutions.

• Cryptomining malware continues to rise, especially in environments with weak endpoint controls or unpatched cloud workloads.

Mobile & Cloud-Based Malware Growth

In 2025, malware threats have increasingly shifted from local environments to mobile and cloud ecosystems.

Mobile Malware:

• Mobile malware infections grew 44% YoY, driven by malicious apps, sideloaded APKs, and smishing (SMS phishing).

• Android devices accounted for 87% of mobile malware incidents, largely due to open app ecosystems and lack of timely patching.

• iOS remains more secure but is seeing targeted zero-click exploits via iMessage and Safari vulnerabilities.

Cloud Malware:

• Cloud malware attacks rose by 36%, targeting misconfigured S3 buckets, unsecured APIs, and container vulnerabilities.

• Popular malware tactics include cloud-native command-and-control (C2) channels and lateral movement inside cloud environments.

• SaaS platforms like Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace are now common malware vectors through credential theft and session hijacking.

Malware Infection Rates by Operating System

Malware does not affect all systems equally. Here’s the 2025 breakdown of malware infections by OS:

• Windows remains the most targeted OS, mainly due to its dominant enterprise footprint and legacy system vulnerabilities.

• Linux malware is growing—particularly on servers, cloud workloads, and IoT devices.

• macOS and iOS see fewer infections but are increasingly under attack by advanced threat actors using nation-state-level exploits.

🔍 Insight: Malware authors now test against multiple endpoint detection and response (EDR) systems before deployment—ensuring a higher success rate and longer dwell time in infected environments.

Top Ransomware Families & Campaigns in 2025

The ransomware threat landscape in 2025 has evolved into a mature, financially motivated ecosystem powered by organized cybercrime and nation-state affiliates. Ransomware groups operate like professional tech firms, using affiliate programs, customer support portals, and even performance-based revenue models.

Below is a breakdown of the most active and dangerous ransomware families of 2025, based on attack volume, global spread, and damage impact.

Leading Ransomware Strains of 2025

• LockBit continues to lead in both volume and sophistication. Its 2025 variant (LockBit 3.0) includes real-time negotiation chat features and modular attack payloads.

• BlackCat has innovated with custom encryptors built in Rust and added macOS/Linux support.

• Cl0p focused heavily on supply chain vulnerabilities, including exploitation of MOVEit and other file transfer systems.

The Rise of Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS)

Ransomware is no longer just created and deployed by a few elite hackers. In 2025:

• 72% of ransomware campaigns are attributed to RaaS groups, who license tools and infrastructure to affiliates.

• These services often include:

  • Payload builders

  • Victim negotiation platforms

  • Cryptocurrency laundering channels

  • Support and updates (!)

Example: BlackCat and RansomHub operate as full-fledged affiliate programs, offering up to 90% of ransom profits to their partners.

Extortion Tactics: Encryption + Exfiltration

Ransomware tactics have shifted beyond simple file encryption:

• Double extortion is now the standard—attackers not only encrypt files but also exfiltrate sensitive data and threaten public release if the ransom isn’t paid.

• Triple extortion includes additional pressure through DDoS attacks, harassment of customers, or contacting the media.

🔐 Insight: In 2025, ransomware groups increasingly target organizations with cyber insurance and use leaked internal documents to tailor ransom demands based on perceived ability to pay.

Ransom Payments & Financial Impact in 2025

Ransomware is no longer just a security issue—it’s a business continuity and financial survival crisis. In 2025, ransomware attacks are more targeted, coordinated, and financially devastating than ever before.

Average Ransom Demands in 2025

Ransom demands have soared in 2025, reflecting attackers’ greater sophistication, more selective targeting, and deep reconnaissance:

• Average ransom demand in 2025: $1.92 million, up from $1.54 million in 2024 — a 24.7% year-over-year increase.

• The median ransom paid was $402,000 (many smaller firms negotiate or pay partial amounts).

• High-profile victims in critical infrastructure and finance have reported ransom demands exceeding $10 million.

Payment vs. Recovery Trends

Victims are increasingly weighing the cost of ransom vs. recovery from backups or third-party services.

⚠️ Note: Paying a ransom does not guarantee full data recovery. In 2025, 18% of paying victims received only partial or corrupted data.

Total Global Cost of Ransomware in 2025

Beyond ransom demands, businesses incur massive costs due to:

• Downtime

• Data loss

• Legal action

• Regulatory fines

• Reputation damage

Estimated global cost of ransomware attacks in 2025:
➡️ $30.2 billion USD
This includes direct payouts, recovery expenses, legal fees, and lost revenue from business interruptions.

Breakdown of Ransomware-Related Business Costs (Avg. per Incident):

Insurance & Legal Implications

Cyber insurance providers have tightened policies and raised premiums due to the ransomware surge:

• 63% of businesses now have cyber insurance, but only 48% of policies cover ransomware comprehensively in 2025.

• Insurers often require robust endpoint protection, encrypted backups, and MFA before paying out.

• Some countries (like the UK and France) are proposing bans or restrictions on ransom payments to disincentivize attackers.

📝 Legal note: Under GDPR, HIPAA, and CPRA, data breaches triggered by ransomware can lead to regulatory fines—even if no data is stolen.

Initial Attack Vectors in 2025

Understanding how ransomware and malware enter systems is essential to building strong defense mechanisms. In 2025, attackers continue to refine their entry methods—relying heavily on human error, unpatched systems, and poor configurations.

Top Initial Infection Methods in 2025

Key Insights:

• Phishing remains the #1 infection vector, accounting for nearly half of all successful ransomware and malware attacks in 2025.

• RDP brute-force attacks increased by 12% YoY, especially on misconfigured or poorly monitored servers.

• Vulnerabilities in outdated VPNs, firewall software, and third-party plugins remain common footholds for attackers.

Email-Based Malware Delivery

Despite decades of awareness, email is still the most popular malware delivery mechanism in 2025:

• 61% of malware payloads are delivered through malicious email attachments.

• File types used for delivery:

  • .doc/.docx macros – 28%

  • .zip/.rar archives – 21%

  • .exe files – 18%

  • .pdfs with embedded scripts – 16%

  • HTML/HTA phishing loaders – 9%

• Attackers now use cloud-based file sharing links (e.g., Google Drive, OneDrive) to bypass email scanners.

💡 Trend: Attackers increasingly delay payload delivery to evade sandbox detection—sending seemingly benign emails that activate malicious behavior hours or days later.

Rise in Social Engineering Techniques

Attackers are relying more on psychological manipulation than technical exploits:

• Deepfake-based BEC attacks are growing fast: attackers mimic executive voices or appearances to authorize payments or credentials.

• MFA bypass attacks use repeated push notifications to trick users into approving logins (“push fatigue”).

• “Quishing” (QR code phishing) rose sharply with hybrid and remote events.

Impact on Businesses & Critical Infrastructure

Ransomware in 2025 has moved beyond IT systems—it now affects physical operations, human lives, and national economies. From healthcare disruptions to halted energy pipelines, the consequences are more severe than ever.

Downtime & Recovery Duration in 2025

The downtime caused by ransomware is often more damaging than the ransom itself:

🧠 Insight: 74% of businesses say downtime is now the single most expensive outcome of a ransomware event—more than the ransom payment.

Sector Spotlight: Healthcare, Education & Energy

Ransomware has had life-and-death consequences in certain sectors. Here’s how critical infrastructure is being impacted:

Healthcare

• 78% of hospitals reported at least one ransomware incident in 2025.

• 63% of those attacks caused delayed or canceled procedures, including surgeries and diagnostic tests.

• Ransomware also impacted EHR access, leading to dangerous treatment errors in 11% of cases.

• One major incident in Q2 2025 resulted in a 5-day regional hospital shutdown across 3 states (USA).

Education

• 1 in 3 K-12 schools in North America faced a ransomware attack in 2025.

• 51% lost access to online learning platforms or student records for more than 7 days.

• Attackers increasingly use data leak threats involving minors’ personal info to coerce payments.

Energy & Utilities

• 26% of utility providers globally reported ransomware incidents.

• Attacks on smart grid systems caused regional blackouts in India, Brazil, and parts of Eastern Europe.

• Energy-focused ransomware groups (e.g., “VoltShadow”) specialize in SCADA system disruption.

SMEs vs. Enterprises: Ransomware Resilience Gap

• Small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) are less likely to have tested incident response plans, enterprise-grade EDR, or encrypted backups.

• As a result, they pay higher ransoms relative to revenue and suffer longer recovery periods.

🔐 Pro Tip: Enterprises that implement Zero Trust, immutable backups, and automated detection & response tools reduce average ransomware impact by up to 61%.

Cybersecurity Defenses & Detection Rates in 2025

As ransomware and malware threats evolve, so too do enterprise defenses. But are they working fast enough? In 2025, the security landscape reveals both progress and persistent blind spots—especially in small and medium-sized businesses.

Adoption of Anti-Ransomware Tools

Most companies have invested in at least basic anti-malware software, but true ransomware-specific tools remain underutilized.

🔎 Only 58% of businesses globally have implemented dedicated anti-ransomware solutions, despite increasing attack complexity.

MFA Adoption vs. Attack Success

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) continues to be one of the most effective defenses—yet its inconsistent implementation leaves many firms exposed.

• MFA adoption across all industries: 67%

• Among ransomware victims in 2025: only 39% had MFA enabled

• Organizations with MFA were 73% less likely to suffer successful credential-based ransomware breaches.

📉 MFA fatigue attacks (e.g. push bombing) are increasing—especially against companies using single-method MFA without phishing-resistant tokens (e.g., FIDO2 or smart cards).

EDR/XDR Usage and Detection Success Rates

Endpoint and extended detection and response (EDR/XDR) platforms play a crucial role in early ransomware containment.

• XDR deployments increased by 22% YoY, particularly in healthcare and finance.

• When paired with 24/7 SOC monitoring, EDR/XDR detects threats before payload execution in 7 out of 10 cases.

Backup, Encryption & Network Segmentation Trends

These three pillars of ransomware resilience saw mixed adoption in 2025:

Backup Practices

• 88% of enterprises back up data regularly.

• But only 52% use immutable backups that cannot be altered by ransomware.

• 36% of SMEs lack a tested disaster recovery plan.

Encryption Trends

• At-rest data encryption: 71% of organizations

• In-transit data encryption: 83%

• End-to-end encryption in internal communication tools: 49%

Network Segmentation & Zero Trust

• 42% of businesses have implemented basic network segmentation.

• 29% adopted Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) in 2025.

• Companies using ZTA saw 42% fewer lateral movement breaches during ransomware events.

💡 Organizations with all four controls—MFA, EDR/XDR, encrypted backups, and network segmentation—experienced 75% less ransomware damage than unprotected counterparts.

Emerging Ransomware Threats in 2025–26

Ransomware attackers are adapting faster than ever—leveraging artificial intelligence, fileless techniques, and complex social engineering to bypass traditional defenses. The threat landscape in 2025–26 reflects a dangerous shift toward stealth, automation, and psychological manipulation.

AI-Generated Malware & Autonomous Attacks

Artificial intelligence is no longer just a defense tool—threat actors are using AI to build smarter malware.

• 32% of ransomware variants identified in 2025 were partially or fully AI-generated, allowing real-time adaptation during an attack.

• Attackers use LLMs (large language models) to craft convincing phishing emails, tailor lures to specific victims, and even write polymorphic code that morphs to evade detection.

• AI-driven automation is shortening the ransomware lifecycle—from intrusion to encryption—in under 45 minutes for some advanced threat groups.

🧠 Example: A ransomware strain dubbed “NeuroCrypt” used an AI engine to identify and avoid security software in milliseconds—leading to over 7,200 successful infections in Q1 2025 alone.

Fileless Ransomware & LOTL Techniques

“Living off the land” attacks are skyrocketing—where attackers use legitimate tools already on the system (like PowerShell or WMI) instead of deploying traditional malware.

• 41% of ransomware attacks in 2025 were fileless, a 19% YoY increase.

• Common LOTL techniques include:

  • Using Windows native tools (e.g., certutil, mshta, wmic) to download payloads.

  • Abusing Microsoft Office macros and VBA scripts.

  • Memory-only malware that leaves no disk trace, making forensic analysis harder.

🚫 Fileless malware is particularly hard to detect using signature-based antivirus, pushing demand for behavioral detection and AI-driven EDRs.

Supply Chain & MSP Targeting

Rather than targeting large enterprises directly, threat actors are now compromising trusted third parties to scale their reach.

• 29% of ransomware infections in 2025 originated through third-party vendors—up from 17% in 2024.

• Attacks on Managed Service Providers (MSPs) surged, affecting hundreds of downstream clients in a single breach.

• Notable 2025 incidents:

  • A European HR SaaS provider breach led to ransomware infections at 1,100+ businesses.

  • An MSP compromise in the U.S. healthcare sector resulted in the shutdown of 46 clinics across 9 states.

🔗 Supply chain ransomware attacks are increasingly coordinated, combining APT tactics and ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) ecosystems.

Deepfake-Driven Social Engineering

Deepfakes have become the new frontier in social engineering.

• 12% of Business Email Compromise (BEC) incidents in 2025 used deepfake audio or video to impersonate executives.

• Attackers now generate synthetic voice calls or video messages to convince employees to transfer funds, share credentials, or disable security tools.

• Some ransomware groups use AI-generated “CEO calls” to trick lower-level staff into granting access to high-privilege systems.

Real-World Example:

A finance executive received a video call that appeared to come from the CFO requesting emergency funds approval. The video was fake—generated by AI using public recordings. The incident led to a $4.3M ransomware payment after attackers encrypted the firm’s ERP systems.

Key Stats on Emerging Ransomware Tactics in 2025

📊 Only 38% of organizations say they are “fully prepared” to detect or defend against these new ransomware techniques in real time.

Future Outlook: 2026 & Beyond

The ransomware and malware threat landscape is expected to grow more sophisticated, financially damaging, and globally coordinated in the coming years. By 2026, defenders must brace for rapid advancements in both the scale and complexity of attacks.

Ransomware Forecast: What to Expect in 2026

• Global ransomware incidents are projected to exceed 1 billion attempts in 2026, fueled by Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) platforms and AI automation.

• Healthcare, financial services, education, and logistics will remain the most targeted industries due to the critical nature of their operations and data.

• Double-extortion and triple-extortion tactics will become the norm:

  • Encrypting data

  • Threatening to leak stolen information

  • Launching DDoS attacks to coerce payment

💡 By 2026, over 60% of ransomware attacks are expected to include data exfiltration components, placing additional legal and compliance pressure on victims.

Role of International Regulations & Cyber Treaties

Global cooperation will become increasingly vital to fight transnational cybercrime. In response to escalating ransomware attacks:

• The EU and Five Eyes nations are proposing new cybercrime frameworks to regulate cryptocurrency payments and mandate faster breach disclosures.

• The “Budapest Convention 2.0” (in development) aims to improve international law enforcement cooperation on ransomware and cyber-extortion.

• The U.S. Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act (CIRCIA) will go into effect in late 2025, requiring companies in key sectors to report major attacks within 72 hours.

🛡️ International collaboration and intelligence sharing will be key, especially as nation-state groups increase ransomware deployment for economic disruption.

Post-Quantum Security & Ransomware Resilience

As quantum computing advances, so do concerns about cryptographic longevity—and ransomware operators may exploit unprepared systems.

• By 2026, NIST’s post-quantum cryptography (PQC) standards will begin formal adoption across U.S. federal agencies and global enterprises.

• Hybrid encryption models (classical + quantum-safe) will begin to replace legacy RSA and ECC-based systems vulnerable to quantum attacks.

• Quantum-resistant ransomware strains could emerge that exploit early-stage PQC vulnerabilities or gaps in enterprise migration strategies.

Key Stats:

• Only 14% of global enterprises are actively preparing for PQC migration in 2025.

• 38% of CISOs surveyed expect quantum threats to affect ransomware attack techniques by 2028.

• Governments are investing in quantum key distribution (QKD) research to secure critical infrastructure by 2030.

🔐 Enterprises should begin evaluating PQC-compatible backup, key management, and encryption solutions to remain resilient in the next cryptographic era.

Forward-Looking Considerations

Disclaimer

The information presented in this post/graphic is based on data from reputable sources, including cybersecurity studies, government documents, industry reports, and expert insights. While we strive for accuracy, figures may vary by source and are current as of 2025. For full context or updates, please consult the original publications.