Hive ransomware group on the rise

The Hive ransomware group emerged as the third-most active hacking operation last month, surpassing BlackCat, as ransomware attacks rose by more than 50% between February and March, TechRepublic reports. NCC Group researchers found that Hive recorded a 188% increase in attacks from February, the highest among all threat groups, while most of the group's attacks were targeted at the industrial sector, similar to the LockBit 2.0 and Conti groups. Moreover, North America accounted for 44% of ransomware attacks last month, making it the most targeted region worldwide, while almost 90% of ransomware attacks in the region were attributed to the U.S., which had ransomware deployments rise by 48% from February to March. The report also showed that industrials and consumer cyclicals were the most targeted sectors, with NCC Group researchers expecting continued attacks against both industries, which should prompt increased urgency in facilitating service restoration while minimizing damages and costs.