Russia ranks fourth globally in total losses from hacker attacks

In 2020 Russians lost $15.2 billion due to cybercrime attacks. This is the fourth-highest figure globally in terms of total losses after the United States — $28 billion, Brazil — $26 billion and the United Kingdom — $17.4 billion. This is stated in the study by Comparitech.

Analysts note that the figures include direct payments to hackers to halt the attacks and related losses.

Source: Comparitech.

Over the past year, Russia recorded 510,396 cybercrimes—a 73% increase from 2019 (294,409). The cumulative losses for Russian companies could reach $49 billion.

From January through June 2021, Russia recorded 271,145 hacker attacks.

In Belarus in 2020 that figure stood at 25,561, up 143% from 2019 (10,539). In Kazakhstan—14,000 cases, another 1,700 registered in January 2021.

According to Comparitech, globally every year 71.1 million people fall victim to hackers. Their collective losses reach at least $318 billion, i.e. on average each attack costs a victim about $4,500.

Belarus ranked second in the list of countries with the highest growth in cybercrime, at 176%. Sri Lanka topped the ranking at 359%.

Comparitech said that ransomware remains the hackers’ preferred tool. At the same time, attacks have become more targeted: attackers almost always know how much the victim has, which drives up the ransom.

According to data from the Ransomwhere service, more than $33 million in cryptocurrency was sent to addresses associated with ransomware in 2021.

Read more about the impact of the wave of cyberattacks on Bitcoin in a ForkLog special feature.

“The ransomware pandemic”: what is driving the wave of hacker attacks and how it will affect Bitcoin

Subscribe to ForkLog’s news on Telegram: ForkLog Feed — the full news feed, ForkLog — the most important news, infographics and opinions.