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Ransomware activity is still very high in 2026, with attackers targeting various organizations, according to recent victim statistics. This year for the month of January, there have been 796 confirmed ransomware victims from 315 different groups, showing a fragmented but aggressive threat landscape targeting businesses globally.
Top Ransomware Groups by Number of Victims:
Top 10 ransomware groups in 2026 ranked by victims:
Qilin – Leading the chart with the highest number of recorded victims, indicating sustained operational capability and broad targeting.
Qapt – Closely following, maintaining a strong presence through frequent and impactful campaigns.
Akira – Continues to be a major threat actor, particularly known for double-extortion tactics.
Sinobi: 58 organizations are impacted by sinobi.
TheGentlemen: theGentlemen man targets 47 institutions in January- 2026
Incransom: In 2026, incransom targets 46 organizations
Cl0p – Despite prior law-enforcement pressure, remains active through selective high-value attacks.
Play: In 2026, incransom targets 35 organizations
Devman: Devman targets 30 institutions in January- 2026
Tengu: In 2026, incransom targets 28 organizations
US is in the top list of ransomware victim list in January- 2026.
These groups represent a large share of ransomware victims in 2026, highlighting the strength of organized ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS) operations.
Ransomware continues to expand, with many active groups increasing victim numbers. New or rebranded groups keep appearing, making it harder to track and defend against them. The ongoing presence of groups like Cl0p and Akira shows that efforts to shut them down haven’t completely broken the ransomware ecosystem.
Monthly Ransomware Victims Rise Sharply in 2026 Compared to 2025
A comparison of monthly average ransomware victims shows a significant increase in 2026, indicating a rising global ransomware threat.
According to the charted data:
2025 recorded an average of approximately 620 victims per month
2026 has surged to around 800 victims per month, marking a significant year-over-year increase
This shows about a 29% increase in monthly ransomware victims in 2026 compared to the previous year.
Technology and Manufacturing Lead Ransomware Victim Sectors in 2026:
Ransomware attackers in 2026 are still targeting industries that rely heavily on technology and operations, with Technology and Manufacturing being the most hit sectors.
Monthly analysis of ransomware victims reveals uneven targeting, indicating attackers focus on organizations with significant operational impact and ability to pay ransoms.
Most Targeted Sectors in 2026:
Technology is the primary target for ransomware, as it has the most victims. Its reliance on digital systems, cloud services, and linked supply chains makes it appealing to cybercriminals.
Manufacturing is impacted by attackers who can disrupt production lines and critical operations. Healthcare is a high-risk sector where interruptions can lead to urgent ransom discussions according to ransomware.live.
Other frequently targeted sectors include:
Business Services
Financial Services
Construction
Transportation & Logistics
Energy
Education
Consumer Services
Security Implications:
The data reinforces the urgent need for organizations to:
Strengthen backup and recovery strategies
Deploy behavior-based threat detection
Enforce Zero Trust access controls
Monitor for data exfiltration indicators, not just encryption events
Ransomware tactics are improving and more victims are being targeted, making 2026 likely to be a significant year for cyber extortion.
