Cybersecurity Articles 2024

Top Cyberattack Statistics – Editor’s Choice

A cyberattack occurs roughly once every 39 seconds.

More than 800,000 people fall victim to cyberattacks each year.

17% of all data breaches involve malware infections.

Criminal hacking causes more than 45% of sensitive data leaks.

Malware attacks cost companies an average of $2.6 million.

95% of all breaches target government organizations, technological companies, or retail groups.

How Many Cyberattacks Happen per Day?

Cyberattacks have become increasingly common in recent years. In fact, studies conducted by the University of Maryland’s A. James Clark School of Engineering found that more than 2,200 cyberattacks occur each day. When broken down, that means someone becomes a victim of a data breach, phishing attack, or other cybercrime every 39 seconds. [^1^]

How Many People Get Hacked Each Year?

Based on industry studies, cybersecurity professionals estimate that more than 800,000 people experience ransomware attacks, phishing attacks, or data security breaches each year. According to a study conducted by Comparitech, approximately 88.5 million people are victims of cybercrimes every year. [^2^]

Phishing Attack Statistics

Phishing is the most commonly used cyberattack, making up roughly one-third of all reported data breaches and 78% of all cyber-espionage attacks. 17 in 20 phishing schemes target login information, including email addresses, usernames, and passwords. As a result, 20% of data breaches begin with stolen login information. This is especially troubling as 85% of all web users reuse passwords for multiple accounts. As of Q1 2024, cybercriminals create nearly 1 million phishing sites per month – that’s almost 7x as many as in Q2 2020. And as a result, over 300,000 phishing victims lost a total in excess of $52 million in the space of a year. [^3^]

Malware Statistics

In 2023, there were over 6 billion malware attacks worldwide. That figure has remained fairly steady, ranging from 5.4 billion to 6.06 billion between 2020 and 2023. The single worst year for malware attacks over the last decade was 2018 (10.5 billion attacks). Hackers and bots distribute over 94% of all malware infections via email. And on average, a malware attack costs a company over $5 million. [^4^]

Ransomware Statistics

Ransomware has become one of the most pervasive and fastest-growing threats to individuals and organizations worldwide. With attacks occurring every 39 seconds, cybersecurity professionals estimate that more than 300 million ransomware attack attempts happened throughout 2023. North America currently receives the largest proportion of industrial ransomware attacks (43%). [^5^]

Cryptojacking Statistics

Cryptojacking is a form of cybercrime in which hackers use an individual or organization’s computer system to mine cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum. While relatively new, the latest data indicate an uptick in unauthorized mining activities. Around 29% of WordPress plugins on popular websites may have vulnerabilities resulting in a cryptojacking attack. [^6^]

IoT, DDoS, and Other Attacks

In H1 2021, attackers caused more than 1.5 billion Internet of Things (IoT) breaches, up from only 639 million in 2020. Most IoT network attacks occur via the telnet protocol, an interface that facilitates remote connection with a server or device. [^7^]

Most Common Causes of Data Breaches in Cybersecurity

With sophisticated phishing campaigns causing more than 30% of all data breach incidents worldwide, organizations have become increasingly aware of their substandard cybersecurity practices, which often contribute to the attacks. Criminal hacking is the most common cause of a data breach, with more than 45% of sensitive data breaches occurring due to hacking attacks, malware, malicious email attachments, or code injection. [^8^]

Cost of Cybersecurity

According to the latest available data, the average cost of a successful attack reached $133,000. Experts expect the numbers to continue to grow, with estimated global cybercrime costs reaching $10.5 trillion by 2025. On average, data breach incidents cost companies more than $3.9 million. And malware attacks cost companies an average of $2.6 million. [^9^]

Cybersecurity Growth Rate

Statistics show that information security analyst roles will increase by 33% between 2020 and 2030. As of 2023, the cybersecurity market is worth $172.32 billion. The market is expected to reach a total valuation of $424.97 billion by 2030, growing at a rate of 13.8% annually. [^10^]

Data Breach Statistics

Over the last decade, more than 300 data breaches have resulted in the loss of at least 100,000 sensitive files. Employee or contractor negligence is the most common cause of a data breach incident, accounting for 48% of incidents worldwide. Almost half (43%) of data breach incidents impact small businesses. In total, 95% of all breaches impacted government organizations, retail companies, or technology companies. [^11^]

Cybersecurity Risks

In total, 69% of organizations don’t believe they have adequate virus and malware protection to fend off attacks. According to cyberattack statistics, small businesses account for 43% of cybercrime. Generally speaking, small businesses and enterprises most frequently experience phishing or social engineering attacks. [^12^]

Largest Data Breaches and Hacking Statistics

2021 saw a number of significant (and well-publicized) cyberattacks, including the Colonial Pipeline Attack and the JBS Foods Hack. In total, 95% of breaches occur due to human error. Nearly 90% of all breaches are motivated by financial gain. [^13^]

Historic Data Breaches

Since the first cyberattack occurred in 1999, cybercriminals have continued to ramp up their efforts and impact major corporations, government organizations, and social media platforms. Notable breaches include the Marriott breach in 2020 and the Yahoo breach in 2013. [^14^]

Cybersecurity Job Statistics

Experts predict that jobs in the cybersecurity industry will grow at an unprecedented rate of 33% between 2020 and 2030, resulting in over 16,000 open jobs each year. More than 60% of organizations don’t think current cybersecurity applicants are qualified. [^15^]

In conclusion, the prevalence of cyberattacks has increased substantially in recent years. The statistics for 2024 indicate a high number of cyberattacks occurring daily, with phishing and malware attacks being the most common. The cost of cyberattacks continues to rise, and organizations must invest in cybersecurity measures to protect sensitive data. The cybersecurity industry is experiencing significant growth, with a high demand for skilled professionals. It is crucial for businesses and individuals to stay vigilant and take proactive measures to defend against cyber threats.

[^1^]: University of Maryland
[^2^]: University of Maryland, Comparitech
[^3^]: Verizon, IBM, Bitwarden, APWG, Forbes
[^4^]: Statista, GuardSite, UpGuard
[^5^]: SonicWall, WatchGuard, Dragos
[^6^]: SonicWall, PurpleSEC
[^7^]: IoT World Today, TechRadar
[^8^]: IT Governance
[^9^]: Cyber Security Ventures, CSO Online, Accenture, Statista
[^10^]: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Fortune Business Insights
[^11^]: Forbes, Statista, Forbes, Security Magazine, Governing, PurpleSEC
[^12^]: Vumetric, Norton, Embroker
[^13^]: WhatIs, Vox, Chicago Tribune, Cybint, Varonis, Verizon, Sophos
[^14^]: Technology Inquirer, CPO Magazine, Marriot, CNBC, Uber, New York Times
[^15^]: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Cybint, Cybercrime Magazine