Ransomware attacks, a form of malware designed to encrypt files on a device, rendering any files and
the systems that rely on them unusable, saw a downturn in 2022. According to research reports from
several cybersecurity vendors, at least some of the drop is thanks to improved prevention and law
enforcement intervention. Some reports indicate that the frequency of the attacks dropped 21 percent
on a global scale, while the profitability of attacks fell 40 percent.

While we can celebrate the downturn in use of ransomware attacks, we must understand that from
2020 to 2021, the number of ransomware attacks more than doubled, surging by 105%. 2022 reports
indicate attacks have dropped 21% from that surge. Findings state that 64% of organizations
experienced some form of ransomware infection, with the US ranking as the number one target across
the globe.

After the 2021 high, IT professionals across the globe have continued to improve detection and
response systems, resulting in the massive downturn in attacks. “The technology is getting better and
better at finding ransomware attackers as they’re going through their goals and objectives,” said John
Dwyer, head of research at IBM Security X-Force. However, this process of continual improvement
drives a parallel cycle of improvement in the cybercriminal ecosystem.

The local professionals at LayerEight continue to study and understand trends in attacks, and how to
defend against them, keeping our clients and their employees safe and productive. For more
information on how we could protect your business, email us at sales@lyr8.com.