Hat tip to Rob Robinson for sharing this one on LinkedIn!  Comparitech has an interactive map of US ransomware attacks from 2018 to the present!

Each dot represents the location of a ransomware attack, with the size of the dot depicting the number of records impacted.  The map updates weekly and pinpoints the locations of each ransomware attack in the US, from 2018 to present day. Where available, it includes the ransom amount, whether or not the ransom was paid, the entity and industry that was targeted, and the strain of ransomware used. 

The type of industry targeted is color coded, with Business in blue, Education in Green, Government in Orange and Healthcare in Red.  Based on a look at the map, it looks like there are more red and blue dots than green and orange and they are generally larger dots than most of the green and orange ones.  You can also filter the map by year, by whether the ransom was paid (if known) and even by the ransomware strain!  There appears to be about 60(!) ransomware strains you can choose from.  You can also search the map to limit to a specific geographical area if you choose, down to state, county or city!

Comparitech states that its researchers search through state reports, industry news, and cybersecurity databases to find the latest ransomware attacks on US businesses, healthcare organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies.  They provide a link to request a full list of attacks and sources on the page and also links to industry-specific reports for 2020 for the four industries noted above which are very detailed and informative as well!

This map is an eye-opening and very informative resource for US ransomware attacks!  Check it out!

So, what do you think?  Are you surprised that there have been so many US ransomware attacks, or that many strains of ransomware?  Please share any comments you might have or if you’d like to know more about a particular topic.

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