Ransomware attacks continued to wreak havoc in 2024, with hundreds of millions of people affected worldwide. The year saw a significant surge in data theft and extortion attacks, with both frequency and sophistication increasing dramatically. Despite some rare wins against ransomware hackers, the attacks show no signs of slowing down, leaving individuals, businesses, and governments reeling.

One of the most notable attacks of the year was on LoanDepot, a mortgage and loan giant, which was hit by a cyberattack involving the "encryption of data" in January. The attack left customers unable to access account information or submit payments, and forced the company to shut down certain systems. Weeks later, LoanDepot revealed that the personal data of more than 16 million individuals had been compromised.

Fulton County, the largest county in Georgia, was also targeted by the notorious LockBit ransomware gang in January. The attack led to weeks of county-wide disruption, including IT outages affecting phone lines, the courts, and tax systems. Although LockBit claimed that Fulton County had paid a ransom, security experts believe that the gang likely lost most of the stolen data when their servers were seized by law enforcement the following month.

Other notable attacks included those on Southern Water, a UK utility giant, which saw the personal data of over 470,000 customers stolen; Change Healthcare, which suffered one of the largest data breaches in US health and medical history, affecting at least 100 million people; and Omni Hotels & Resorts, which had its systems shut down after identifying hackers on its network, leading to widespread outages across its properties.

The attacks didn't slow down throughout the year, with Evolve Bank, a US-based banking-as-a-service giant, being targeted in June, resulting in the theft of personal data of at least 7.6 million people. Synnovis, a major pathology services provider for the NHS, was also hit, leading to canceled operations and the diversion of emergency patients. The NHS was forced to declare a critical incident and issue a national appeal for "O" blood-type group donors due to delays in matching blood to patients.

In July, the City of Columbus, Ohio, suffered a ransomware attack, resulting in the theft of personal data of around 500,000 residents. Transport for London, the government body overseeing the UK capital's public transit system, experienced weeks of digital disruption in September, with the theft of banking data on some 5,000 customers. Japanese electronics giant Casio was also targeted in October, with the theft of personal information belonging to employees, contractors, and business partners, as well as sensitive company data.

The attacks continued into the final months of the year, with Blue Yonder, a supply chain software provider, being targeted in November, affecting several major US and UK retailers. In December, several NHS hospitals were disrupted by ransomware, including Alder Hey Children's Hospital Trust, one of Europe's largest children's hospitals. Artivion, a medical device company, also confirmed a "cybersecurity incident" involving the "acquisition and encryption" of data.

The sheer scale and frequency of these attacks highlight the urgent need for individuals, businesses, and governments to take proactive measures to protect themselves against ransomware attacks. As the attacks continue to evolve in sophistication and frequency, it is essential to stay vigilant and adapt to the changing threat landscape.

The implications of these attacks are far-reaching, with the potential to compromise sensitive information, disrupt critical infrastructure, and cause significant financial losses. As the world becomes increasingly reliant on digital technologies, the importance of robust cybersecurity measures cannot be overstated. It remains to be seen how governments and organizations will respond to this growing threat, but one thing is clear: the battle against ransomware is far from over.