U.S. Government Agencies Face Daily Ransomware Attacks, Study Reveals
A recent study by Comparitech has highlighted a significant rise in ransomware attacks targeting government agencies, with an average of one attack occurring daily. Between January and June 2026, 187 government organizations were affected, marking a 13% increase from the previous six months. The United States emerged as the most frequent target, accounting for 31% of these incidents. The study notes that government agencies are attractive targets for cybercriminals due to the potential disruption of public services and the sensitive data they hold. The mean ransom demand during this period was $100,000, although some demands, such as the $3.1 million requested from the Land and Agricultural Development Bank of South Africa, were significantly higher. Known ransomware groups like The Gentlemen, Qilin, and LockBit were identified as frequent attackers. 
