Government and government orgnizations are becoming the main target for cyber attacks, according to reports.
Cyber attack on governments Sophos reportSophos report
Sophos, a leading cybersecurity solutions provider, has released its 2024 annual report on ransomware incidents affecting state and local government organizations. This year’s study offers insights, focusing on ransom demands versus payments and the role of law enforcement in post-attack remediation.
The report reveals a significant drop in ransomware attack rates within the sector, with 34 percent of state and local government organizations experiencing an attack in 2024 — down from 69 percent in 2023.
While the frequency of cyber attacks has decreased, the associated recovery costs have surged. The average cost to recover from a cyber attack in this sector has more than doubled, reaching $2.83 million in 2024, compared to $1.21 million in the previous year.
In a concerning trend, 98 percent of ransomware attacks on these organizations resulted in data encryption, marking a significant rise from 76 percent in 2023. This makes the sector the most targeted for data encryption across all sectors studied in 2024. Despite attempts by cybercriminals to compromise backups during attacks, only 51 percent were successful — one of the lowest compromise rates recorded.
The report also highlights an increase in the percentage of organizations paying ransoms to recover their data. In 2024, 54 percent of state and local government organizations paid the ransom, up from previous years.
While nearly half of those who paid the ransom ended up paying more than the initial demand, the average ransom payment across respondents was $2.2 million, with only 20 percent of victims paying the original ransom amount.
Despite the rising costs and higher encryption rates, the report shows that many organizations are adopting multiple methods to recover encrypted data. The use of both backups and ransom payments has quadrupled from 11 percent in 2023 to 44 percent in 2024, indicating a shift toward more diversified recovery strategies.
As state and local governments continue to face the challenges of ransomware, the report underscores the importance of robust cybersecurity measures and the critical role of law enforcement in supporting organizations through the recovery process.
Check Point report
Meanwhile, the cyber security report from Check Point Software Technologies, sheds insights on recent cyberattacks targeting government organizations around the world. The report highlights several significant incidents that underscore the growing threat of cyber warfare and the impact these attacks have on national security and public life.
Ukraine: Ukraine has faced numerous cyberattacks aimed at crippling its infrastructure and war efforts. Notable attacks include the deployment of HermeticWizard, HermeticRansom, and HermeticWiper malware on the eve of Russia’s invasion. These cyberattacks targeted government institutions and other critical organizations, further complicating the nation’s ability to function during wartime.
Iran: The Iranian government’s state-operated television channels and a radio station were targeted by an opposition group. The attackers, belonging to an exiled faction, managed to broadcast an anti-government video message through these platforms, demonstrating the vulnerability of even tightly controlled state media to cyber threats.
Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands: Ransomware attacks against oil port terminals in these countries have caused significant disruptions in the logistics and energy sectors. The attacks affected operations at 17 ports, hindering the loading and unloading of cargo, and raising concerns about the security of critical infrastructure.
Costa Rica: The Conti ransomware group launched a widespread attack on multiple government agencies in Costa Rica, leading to a national state of emergency. The attack resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in damages and disrupted governmental operations, highlighting the severe consequences of ransomware on national governance.
Baburajan Kizhakedath
