A new report from Check Point Software reveals a troubling rise in cyber threats, notably an increase in ransomware incidents and data exposure associated with generative AI usage. By December 2025, organizations globally experienced an average of 2,027 cyberattacks each week, reflecting a one percent month-over-month increase and a nine percent rise compared to the same time the previous year.
Ransomware attacks peaked with 945 publicly reported incidents in December, marking a remarkable 60 percent surge from December 2024. This highlights ransomware as the most disruptive threat, resulting in significant operational disruptions and financial losses across various sectors. The educational sector was particularly hard hit, with an average of 4,349 attacks per week, a 12 percent increase year-on-year. The government sector followed closely, facing 2,666 attacks weekly, while associations and non-profits experienced a staggering growth of 56 percent, averaging 2,509 attacks per week.
Mark Weir, the regional director for the UK and Ireland at Check Point Software, stressed the importance of adopting a prevention-first security strategy alongside real-time AI threat intelligence as organizations prepare for 2026. He pointed out that the cyber risk landscape is evolving, and industries must enhance their security measures to mitigate these growing threats.