Comparitech researchers today published a study looking at August 2026 ransomware, finding that last month saw a record-breaking high for attacks at 32 attacks per day.
Key findings for August 2026
- 997 attacks in total — 77 confirmed attacks (confirmed by the entity involved)
- Of the 77 confirmed attacks:
- 49 were on businesses
- 18 were on government entities
- 8 were on healthcare companies
- 2 were on educational institutions
- Of the 920 unconfirmed attacks*:
- 812 were on businesses
- 21 were on government entities
- 61 were on healthcare companies
- 22 were on educational institutions
- The most prolific ransomware gangs were Qilin (157) and The Gentlemen (107)
- Qilin had the most confirmed attacks (12), followed by The Gentlemen (8)
- The US saw the most attacks (417), followed by Germany and Italy (48 each), the UK (36), and Canada (35)
Commenting on this study is Rebecca Moody, Head of Data Research at Comparitech:
“Ransomware threats are escalating across most sectors and continue to have a devastating impact on those affected. One of August’s key attacks was on the government of Berlin, Germany. While the state government should be applauded for not meeting Rhysida’s ransom demand ($2.3M), the ransom looks set to be a drop in the ocean when compared to the costs the government is likely to face. Some recent statements suggest the computer rebuild could cost as much as €100 million (USD $116M) and the breach of over 1 million files is rumored to be the biggest state-level data breach in Germany to date.
Data relating to critical infrastructure is also believed to have been included in the Berlin breach. This, and the jump in attacks on utility companies, healthcare providers, manufacturers, and tech and finance companies, highlight how critical infrastructure remains a key target for hackers. By targeting these sectors, hackers are not only causing mass disruption by encrypting systems but they’re also gaining access to highly sensitive data, including personal data and information about critical systems and infrastructure.”
The full research can be read here: https://www.comparitech.com/news/ransomware-roundup-august-2026/
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August Ransomware Attacks Hit Record-Breaking High Says Comparitech
Comparitech researchers today published a study looking at August 2026 ransomware, finding that last month saw a record-breaking high for attacks at 32 attacks per day.
Key findings for August 2026
Commenting on this study is Rebecca Moody, Head of Data Research at Comparitech:
“Ransomware threats are escalating across most sectors and continue to have a devastating impact on those affected. One of August’s key attacks was on the government of Berlin, Germany. While the state government should be applauded for not meeting Rhysida’s ransom demand ($2.3M), the ransom looks set to be a drop in the ocean when compared to the costs the government is likely to face. Some recent statements suggest the computer rebuild could cost as much as €100 million (USD $116M) and the breach of over 1 million files is rumored to be the biggest state-level data breach in Germany to date.
Data relating to critical infrastructure is also believed to have been included in the Berlin breach. This, and the jump in attacks on utility companies, healthcare providers, manufacturers, and tech and finance companies, highlight how critical infrastructure remains a key target for hackers. By targeting these sectors, hackers are not only causing mass disruption by encrypting systems but they’re also gaining access to highly sensitive data, including personal data and information about critical systems and infrastructure.”
The full research can be read here: https://www.comparitech.com/news/ransomware-roundup-august-2026/
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This entry was posted on September 8, 2026 at 10:45 am and is filed under Commentary with tags Comparitech. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.