Extortion stories

Australian organisations face increasing ransomware threats from top groups like Qilin, Akira, Scattered Spider, impacting sectors from healthcare to education and business.

European organisations faced a sharp 2024 rise in ransomware and state-backed cyberattacks, with 22% of global victims, says CrowdStrike's latest report.

Global ransomware attacks surged 28% in September, with Industrials hardest hit, as cyber criminals ramp up efforts ahead of the busy holiday season.

Over half of cyberattacks last year were driven by extortion or ransomware, with criminals focusing on financial gain rather than espionage, Microsoft reveals.

Australia ranks tenth globally for cyberattack frequency, with AI fueling a rise in ransomware and extortion, Microsoft reports in its 2025 Digital Defence Review.

Two UK teenagers linked to SCATTERED SPIDER have been charged for cyberattacks disrupting Transport for London, amid ongoing global cyber threats.

Ransomware attacks in Australia have surged 110% year-on-year, with manufacturing, healthcare, and government sectors hit hardest, says Zscaler report.

Ransomware payouts have surged past USD $1 million in Q2 2025, driven by data exfiltration and social engineering in targeted attacks on mid-sized firms.

Australian e-waste, tripling the global average, presents rising cybersecurity risks, with 10-20% of breaches linked to improper disposal of old devices.

Ransomware attacks in Australia surged in 2023–24, costing businesses up to AUD $97,200 on average, urging firms to bolster cyber defences and response plans.

Coinbase says a data breach affected around 1% of users, with cybercriminals demanding a USD $20 million ransom, which was firmly rejected by the firm.

Cybercriminal group Scattered Spider, known for targeting UK retailers, has shifted focus to major US retailers, raising fresh cybersecurity concerns.

Google's GTIG reports 75 zero-day exploits in 2024, highlighting a rising threat to enterprise tech despite a slight overall decrease from 2023.

Cybercrime surged to USD $16.6 billion in 2024, outpacing major US industries and spotlighting social engineering and older victims as prime targets.

A report by Google highlights a surge in North Korean IT operations, now expanding beyond the US to target firms and governments in Australia and Europe.

BlackFog has launched its groundbreaking anti-data exfiltration solution for macOS, aiming to protect against the rising tides of ransomware and AI-driven cyber threats.

As 2025 approaches, businesses face an evolving cybersecurity landscape marked by geopolitical tensions and sophisticated cybercrime threats, demanding urgent strategies.

Google Cloud Security's latest report reveals a surge in cloud data threats, with actors refining tactics for data exfiltration and identity exploitation.

Gen's cybersecurity predictions for 2025 highlight a surge in identity theft and hyper-personalised scams driven by AI advancements and major breaches.

Akamai Technologies has enhanced its cloud security solutions, improving application performance and visibility for users on AWS and Azure amid rising cyber threats.