Government Agencies Falling Victim to Ransomware Daily, Warns Study

Researchers at Comparitech found 187 ransomware incidents targeting government organizations from January to June 2026—an average of roughly one attack per day—representing a 13% rise from late 2025; the US accounted for 31% of attacks. The mean ransom demand was about $100,000 with notable outliers (a $3.1M demand in South Africa), and common perpetrators included The Gentlemen, Qilin, and LockBit; the report emphasizes disruption to public services and recommends proactive defenses such as patching, backups, and staff training.