New data shows a 41% rise in ransomware attacks globally, with Business Services, Healthcare, and Manufacturing among the hardest hit
Highlights:
- 1,947 cyberattacks/week per org globally (+5% YoY)
- Most targeted sectors: Education, Government, Healthcare
- Fastest-growing target: Agriculture (+115% YoY)
- Ransomware hotspots: North America (56%), Europe (24%)
- Top ransomware-hit industries: Business Services, Healthcare, Manufacturing
- Top ransomware groups: Qilin, Akira, Play
Check Point Research (CPR), the Threat Intelligence arm of Check Point® Software Technologies Ltd. (NASDAQ: CHKP), a pioneer and global leader of cyber security solutions, today released its Global Threat Intelligence Report for July 2025, revealing a sharp escalation in both the scale and sophistication of cyberattacks.
In July, organisations faced an average of 1,947 cyberattacks per week, up 5% year-on-year. The Education sector was the most targeted globally, averaging 4,210 weekly attacks per organisation (+24% YoY), followed by Government (2,577) and Healthcare & Medical (2,538). The agriculture sector experienced the steepest rise, with a 115% YoY increase.
Africa recorded the highest average number of attacks per organisation (3,374 per week), followed by APAC (2,809) and Latin America (2,783). North America saw the largest percentage increase in attacks at +9% YoY.
Ransomware incidents surged, with 487 attacks reported in July, a 41% increase year-on-year. North America accounted for 56% of all reported ransomware cases, followed by Europe at 24%.
“July’s data shows ransomware is not only here to stay, but is evolving rapidly, with groups like Qilin expanding their reach into high-value targets,” said Lotem Finkelstein, Director, Threat Intelligence and Research at Check Point Software Technologies. “These attacks are hitting every corner of the globe and every type of organisation. Prevention-first strategies, powered by AI, are the only way to stay ahead.”
Top ransomware groups – July 2025
Ransomware remained one of the most disruptive threats in July 2025, with a few highly active groups responsible for much of the global activity. The three most prominent were Qilin, Akira, and Play, each using different techniques but sharing the same goal, maximum impact, and financial gain.
- Qilin (Agenda) – Responsible for 17% of all known ransomware incidents in July, Qilin operates as a ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) platform. Written in Golang, it is known for targeting large enterprises in healthcare and education. Qilin typically gains access via phishing emails with malicious links, then moves laterally to encrypt systems and exfiltrate sensitive data for double-extortion.
- Akira – Accounted for 9% of ransomware cases in July. Active since early 2023, Akira targets both Windows and Linux systems using symmetric encryption (CryptGenRandom() and Chacha 2008). Often spreads via compromised VPN endpoints or malicious email attachments. Appends a “.akira” extension to encrypted files and demands ransom for decryption keys.
- Play (PlayCrypt) – Made up 6% of ransomware incidents in July. First seen in 2022, Play has attacked over 300 organizations worldwide, including critical infrastructure. Gains access through stolen credentials or unpatched vulnerabilities, such as in Fortinet SSL VPNs, and uses “living-off-the-land” binaries (LOLBins) for stealthy data theft before encryption.
Top ransomware-hit industries – July 2025
- Business Services – 10.5%
- Healthcare & Medical – 9.7%
- Industrial Manufacturing – 9.4%
- Construction & Engineering – 9.2%
- Consumer Goods & Services – 7.2%
- Financial Services – 6.2%
- Education – 4.7%
- Energy & Utilities – 4.1%
- Hospitality, Travel & Recreation – 4.1%
- Information Technology – 3.9%
- Real Estate Rentals & Leasing – 3.7%
- Government – 3.5%
- Transportation & Logistics – 3.3%
- Automotive – 3.1%
- Associations & Non-Profits – 2.7%
- Agriculture – 2.5%
- Wholesale & Distribution – 2.3%
- Telecommunications – 2.1%
- Hardware & Semiconductors – 1.2%
- Media & Entertainment – 1.2%
- Aerospace & Defence – 0.8%
- Biotech & Pharmaceuticals – 0.6%
- Software – 0.6%
The July 2025 threat landscape underscores a clear reality: no industry, region, or organisation is immune. As ransomware groups diversify their tactics and target new verticals, the risk to businesses of all sizes continues to grow. Prevention-first, AI-powered security strategies remain the most effective way to stop these attacks before they cause damage. Check Point Research will continue to track these trends and provide actionable intelligence to help organisations stay ahead of emerging threats.
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