UK Retail Sector Hit by Wave of Ransomware Attacks in April
The UK retail sector faced a wave of attacks in April, with high-profile stores like M&S and Harrods targeted. Meanwhile, ransomware attacks globally saw a shift, with a notable decrease in cases but an increase in the severity and sophistication of attacks.
Scattered Spider, a cybercriminal group, was behind some of the UK's retail attacks. They exploited weaponised PDFs, a growing trend among attackers to infiltrate systems. The industrial sector was particularly hard hit, accounting for nearly one-third of all ransomware cases in April, with 133 attacks.
Akira emerged as the most active ransomware group, launching 65 attacks. North America bore the brunt of these attacks, with 211 cases reported. However, there was a significant drop in overall ransomware attacks, down by 31% with 416 cases reported. The decrease should not be misinterpreted as a declining threat. Geopolitical and economic uncertainty continues to fuel these attacks.
While the number of ransomware attacks decreased in April, the severity and sophistication of attacks increased. The UK retail sector and industrial sector were particularly targeted. Organizations must prioritise strong security cultures to build resilience against evolving threats.
