Check Point Research reports surge in global cyberattacks

Check Point Research reported a significant rise in global cyber threats for August 2026. Organizations worldwide faced an average of 2,422 cyberattacks per week, marking a 4% increase from the previous month and a 22% increase year-over-year.

Key security challenges identified include ransomware, phishing, and data exposure risks linked to generative AI. In Japan, weekly attacks per organization reached 1,907, a 35% increase compared to the previous year. In Spain, companies recorded an average of 2,192 weekly attacks.

The education and research sector remains the most targeted globally, averaging 5,354 weekly attacks per organization. Other highly targeted sectors include government and military, as well as hospitality, travel, and leisure, the latter of which saw a 56% year-over-year increase.

Regarding artificial intelligence, while the proportion of high-risk generative AI prompts reached its lowest level in months, overall AI usage continues to grow. Research indicates that one in 43 generative AI prompts sent from corporations carries a risk of sensitive data exposure, potentially affecting 86% of organizations that use these tools regularly.