Surge in Ransomware Victimization Despite Consolidation of Extortion Groups (infosecurity-magazine.com)

• Q4 2025 saw record victimization rates despite fewer threat actors.
• 50% increase in data leak volume indicates higher operational efficiency of attackers.
• Consolidation of threat groups leads to more focused, impactful campaigns.

"ReliaQuest research indicates a paradox in the threat landscape: while the number of active ransomware groups has decreased, victim counts soared in Q4 2025. Data exfiltration incidents rose by 50%, highlighting that fewer, more capable adversaries are inflicting greater damage on target organizations. This shift poses a critical challenge for European cybersecurity frameworks relying on traditional disruption tactics."