Ransomware attacks rise 23% in Q3 2026, NCC Group says

• Ransomware attacks rose 23% in the third quarter of 2026 from the previous quarter, highlighting growing threats to critical infrastructure.
• September attacks fell 26% from August to 821, despite the quarterly increase.
• Industrials remained the most targeted sector, recording over 838 attacks during the quarter, including 230 in September.
• North America led September regional totals with 390 attacks, followed by Europe with 211.
• Threat groups increasingly used generative AI to automate targeting, while vulnerabilities in legitimate AI agents created additional exposure for organizations.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. NCC Group plc published the original content used to generate this news brief on October 20, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.