Italy remains major target of global cybercrime

Italy remains a major target of global cybercrime.

According to the latest Global Threat Intelligence Report by cybersecurity firm Check Point Research, Italian organizations experience an average of 2,507 cyberattacks per week. This figure represents a 3% increase compared to last year and is 20.2% higher than the global average of 2,086 attacks per organization. The report identifies the rapid and often unregulated adoption of Generative Artificial Intelligence as a key driver of this pressure, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

The data shows that one in 31 requests sent from corporate networks exposes sensitive data. With an average of 62 monthly interactions per user across 11 different AI platforms, researchers warn that the spread of chatbots is becoming an often unintended tool for hackers targeting usernames and passwords once they gain access to compromised systems.

Italy ranks fifth globally in terms of ransomware victims—attacks that make files inaccessible while demanding payment—on par with France and Brazil. The government, media, and telecommunications sectors are among the most affected nationwide, according to ANSA.

Check Point Italy warns that the threat is now constant and requires proactive AI-based defense systems to neutralize attacks before they cause operational or financial damage.

The main ransomware groups in February were Qilin ransomware group (15%), Clop ransomware group (13%), and The Gentlemen ransomware group (11%), which together accounted for a significant share of detected victims.

Researchers noted that 49 different ransomware groups have publicly impacted organizations worldwide, highlighting the scale and fragmentation of the ransomware ecosystem.