Between June and August of last year, the number of cyberattacks targeting companies reached a record figure of 1,876, representing a 75% increase compared to the same period the previous year and a 15% rise compared to the previous quarter. Although ransomware attacks decreased slightly from the previous year, it remains a significant challenge, with over 1,230 incidents publicly reported by extortion groups.
The Check Point ThreatCloud AI report highlights that schools, colleges, and universities have become priority targets for cybercriminals, facing an average of 3,828 attacks weekly per institution globally. In particular, the Hardware Providers subsector experienced a year-on-year increase of 191% in attacks.
Educational institutions are highly vulnerable due to the vast amount of personal information they handle, from student data to academic records and financial information. The lack of awareness and resources in these institutions makes them particularly susceptible to cyberattacks. Students and employees are often the weakest link in the security chain by being careless when interacting with suspicious links or attachments, facilitating cybercriminals' access to institutional networks.
In terms of consequences, cyberattacks in the education sector can be devastating, including the loss of sensitive data, class interruptions, damage to reputation, and high recovery costs. Regarding more exposed regions, Europe experienced a notable increase in cyberattacks, while Africa suffered a 90% increase in attacks compared to the previous year.
The manufacturing sector was the most impacted, followed by Health and Retail/Wholesale. In the United States, cyberattacks increased by 56% year-on-year, with the Education/Research sector being the most affected. The technical director of Check Point Software for Spain and Portugal, Eusebio Nieva, highlights that 'the sophistication of techniques and malicious messages has increased significantly,' emphasizing the importance of improving cybersecurity and employee awareness to elevate the level of protection.
