Ransomware Attacks Surge 146% Globally, US Faces Half of Threats in 2025

Ransomware attacks are surging in 2025, with a significant shift toward quadruple extortion tactics that combine data encryption, DDoS attacks, and coercion of third parties, intensifying pressure on victims across various industries. Reports highlight a 146% increase in ransomware attempts blocked by cloud security firms like Zscaler, with manufacturing, technology, healthcare, and oil and gas sectors among the hardest hit. Cybercriminals are increasingly leveraging AI to create adaptive malware and conduct more efficient, targeted attacks, while sophisticated groups such as Scattered Spider employ aggressive social engineering techniques to breach critical infrastructure rapidly. Educational institutions have seen a 23% rise in ransomware intrusions, partly due to reduced cybersecurity resources and extensive data exposure, exemplified by the PowerSchool attack affecting millions of students and faculty. Negotiators like GuidePoint Security note ransomware groups operate like full-fledged businesses with PR and financial teams, complicating recovery and ransom negotiations. These evolving threats underscore the urgent need for organizations to adopt comprehensive Zero Trust strategies and multilayered defenses integrating AI-driven threat intelligence and behavioral analytics to preempt lateral movement and reduce recovery times.