Now that we are in Q2, Q1 threat reports will point to what individual and state-sponsored threat actors have been perpetrating

In its analysis of Q1 2024 cyber incidents in its user ecosystem, a cybersecurity firm has reported “a continuation and evolution of the cybersecurity challenges that emerged in 2023, with a notable increase in cyberattacks across various sectors and regions.”

First, a 28% increase was noted in its global in Q1 2024 compared to that of Q4 2023, which is also a 5% increase from that of Q1 2023. The Education/Research sector in the firm’s user base was the most targeted, at 2,454 attacks per organization weekly, followed by those in the government/military and healthcare industries. Hardware vendors in the firm’s user base had seen a 37% increase in attacks year-on-year (YoY).

Secondly, in terms of geographicaltrends,Africa users experienced a 20% increase in attacks YoY, while those in Latin America reported a 20% decrease, possibly signaling some changes in cybercriminal focus or regional defensive improvements.

Thirdly, in terms of ransomware attack trends, users in Europe (64%) and Africa (18%) had seen increases in ransomware attacks YoY, while those in North America (59%) remained the most impacted, in terms of being featured in 1,000 published attacks from ransomware shame sites. Users in the manufacturing sector had been most affected globally in Q1 by ransomware with 29% of published attacks and a 96% increase in attacks YOY, followed by customers in the healthcare industry with a 63% rise YoY. Those in the communications sector had experienced the highest YoY increase of 177%.

According to Omer Dembinsky, Data Research Group Manager, Check Point Software, the firm sharing its Q1 data findings: “These figures are not just statistics; they represent an urgent call for organizations across all sectors to bolster their defenses and prioritize cybersecurity, underscoring the need for adaptive, AI-powered defence strategies.”