A New Ransomware Threat Actor Emerges Every Week, Warns Report

The Black Kite Ransomware Report 2026 finds 146 active ransomware groups as of June 2026 (up from 105 the prior year), with 61 new groups emerging in 2026 and 7,551 publicly disclosed victims between March 2025 and March 2026; the top five groups accounted for 44% of victims. The report notes a shortened average group lifespan (4.9 months), identifies leading operators (e.g., Qilin, Akira), highlights that critical vulnerabilities (CVSS ≥9) enabled initial access in 44% of attacks, and recommends rapid patching, stronger identity and vendor controls, and improved escalation and impersonation defenses.