As cyber threats continue to evolve, ransomware remains a major concern for organizations across France. Affecting all business sectors and jeopardizing the security of national data. The latest trends observed by SOS Ransomware offer an insight into the landscape of these attacks for October 2023.
Which regions are most affected by ransomware in France?
Our research for October 2023 indicates that ransomware attacks are not evenly distributed across the country. The regions most affected include:
- Île-de-France
- Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
- Occitanie
Ransomware attacks in France are mainly concentrated in regions with high economic activity and population density, notably Île-de-France, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, and Occitanie. These regions are prime targets for cybercriminals seeking to maximize the potential impact of their actions.
No sector escapes the ransomware threat
The breakdown of ransomware attacks in October 2023 reveals an inescapable reality: no sector is immune. From industry and commerce to education and healthcare, every professional field has been confronted with the reality of cybercrime. This constant threat highlights the need for every sector to adopt robust IT security strategies.
What type of business is most affected?
This study on the distribution of ransomware attacks in France, highlights the share of attacks according to company size. For the month of October, large companies are in the front line (46.2%), closely followed by small businesses (30.8%).
This analysis reinforces the idea that large organizations are heavily targeted because of their considerable resources, but also that small and medium-sized businesses are equally vulnerable. As cybercriminals do not discriminate on the basis of size, every company needs to adopt an appropriate defense strategy.
Ransomware group activity in France in October 2023
This graph suggests a significant increase in the presence of the Medusa group compared with September (September article). In contrast, the Lockbit3 group appears to be less active in France than in the previous month(Ransomware statistics for September 2023).
October 2023 highlights significant changes in the ransomware landscape in France. The increased activity of certain ransomware groups is a cause for concern. It is imperative for French entities to maintain constant vigilance. Indeed, the reduction or absence of activity by certain groups during this period may indicate: a halt in operations, successful arrests by law enforcement, but also a strategic pause.
Ransomware attacks persist
In October 2023, France saw a slight drop in ransomware attacks compared with previous months. However, this drop should not be seen as a sign of respite, but rather as the tip of the iceberg.
Official figures often reflect only a fraction of actual attacks, many of which go undetected and unreported. The importance of remaining vigilant and maintaining proactive, scalable security measures is therefore paramount.
Reactivity of ransomware attack reports
A revealing statistic is the average delay of 5 days between the date of the attack and the public declaration. This latency in communication underlines the need for greater transparency and faster response to mitigate damage.
Conclusion
The October 2023 statistics underline the importance for organizations in France to remain vigilant and continually strengthen their cybersecurity measures to guard against these constantly evolving threats. SOS Ransomware continues to monitor and analyze these trends, although the number of attacks claimed is likely to evolve. Updates to this article will be provided as they become available.
Source : Ransomwatch
