Ransomware attacks rise 16% globally, targeting Colombia's Justice Ministry

ESET reported a 16.5% increase in ransomware incidents during the first half of 2026, with 4,699 confirmed attacks worldwide. The surge is driven by the professionalisation of the ransomware‑as‑a‑service (RaaS) model. The most active groups were Qilin, The Gentlemen and Akira, together responsible for about a third of all incidents. The United States led the global tally, followed by Germany, the United Kingdom, Canada and France. In Latin America, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia were among the hardest‑hit countries, with the business services, manufacturing and technology sectors suffering the greatest operational losses.

Separately, Colombia's Ministry of Justice confirmed a ransomware breach that disrupted part of its IT infrastructure and limited access to some services. Minister Cielo Rusinque condemned the attack, activated emergency cybersecurity protocols, and coordinated with the Ministry of ICT, the national police and the prosecutor's office to contain the threat and restore systems. The incident underscores the growing risk of ransomware to both private enterprises and public institutions.