Ransomware remained the standout threat in the first half of the year as cybercriminals continued to target big-name victims. Working with third parties to gain access to targeted networks, cybercriminals used Advanced Persistent Threat tools and techniques to steal and encrypt victims’ data, the report shows.
The banking industry was disproportionately affected, experiencing a 1,318% year-on-year increase in ransomware attacks in the first half of 2021. Other key findings include:
- Business email compromise (BEC) attacks increased by 4%, potentially due to new COVID-19 opportunities for threat actors.
- Cryptocurrency miners became the most detected malware, surging ahead of WannaCry and web shells in recent months.
- The Zero Day Initiative detected 770 vulnerabilities, a slight (2%) drop from 1H 2020.
- A total of 164 malicious apps related to COVID-19 scams were detected, 54% of which impersonated TikTok.