Ransomware victim numbers rise, despite drop in active extortion groups

Ransomware gangs claimed a deluge of victims during the final quarter of 2025, despite a decline in the number of active ransomware groups, analysis by cybersecurity researchers at ReliaQuest has revealed.

As detailed in the company’s Ransomware and Cyber Extortion in Q4 2025 report, the number victim organizations which had their data posted on ransomware leak sites in the final three months of 2025 was up by 50% compared with the previous quarter, and increased by 40% compared with the same period in the previous year.

The organizations which had data published on leak sites were victims of ransomware attacks and the perpetrators released some of the stolen data during their intrusion to put additional pressure on the target to pay a ransom.

Read more at Infosecurity Magazine