Ransomware attacks hit SMBs harder than ever as cybercrime gang rivalry heats up

Date:
Mon, 20 Jul 2026 12:15:00 +0000

Description:
Qilin and The Gentlemen are going at it, at the expense of SMBs facing more attacks than ever.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter NordStellar reports 2,581 ransomware attacks in Q2 2026, with Qilin (299) and The Gentlemen (284) leading activity, far ahead of DragonForce (147) US SMBs were hit hardest, suffering 769 incidents; Canada (97), Germany (83), and the UK (74) followed, while attacks on billiondollar enterprises surged 74% Experts say rivalry between Qilin and The Gentlemen is driving the spike, with major corporate hits seen as reputationboosting trophies in the cybercriminal underground Two ransomware gangs are battling for dominance, and US-based SMBs are the ones suffering most for it, experts have claimed.

Fresh data about the state of ransomware in 2026, compiled by security
experts from NordStellar, shows two groups - Qilin and The Gentlemen - being by far the most active ones. After analyzing more than 200 threat actor
blogs, NordStellar concluded that there were 2,581 ransomware attacks in the second quarter of the year - and of that number, 299 belong to Qilin, the
most active threat actor out there. Close second are The Gentlemen, with 284 attacks. The third most active group - DragonForce - doesnt even come close with just 147 attacks. Latest Videos From Watch full video here: SMBs and enterprises under assault While it seems like a close race, its actually The Gentlemen who have been doing the heavy lifting between April and June 2026. This group experienced a 39% increase in attacks, while Qilins activity actually declined somewhat, compared to Q1.

In this morbid race to the bottom, the biggest victims are US-based small and medium-sized businesses (SMB). These companies, with up to 200 employees and revenues under $25 million, experienced 769 attacks in Q2 2026, followed by Canada (97), Germany (83), and the UK (74). You may like Big Game Hunters: UK ransomware volume drops significantly 'but the reality is more alarming' big orgs are being hit harder and with greater success Ransomware groups grow revenue by almost 40% in Q1 2026 Rival ransomware gangs battle as one group threatens to expose another

NordStellar also mentioned US enterprises, who are now increasingly being targeted. Attacks against organizations with revenues north of $1 billion surged by 74%, going from 23 incidents in Q1, to 40 in Q2.

Ransomware actors historically target SMBs because these organizations often lack comprehensive defenses, which can increase the likelihood of a
successful attack, commented Vakaris Noreika, cybersecurity expert at NordStellar. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners
or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms &
Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

This recent spike in enterprise targeting is unusual and may be a temporary fluctuation. This shift likely stems from the rivalry between dominant threat actors a successful hit on a major corporation is a badge of honor that boosts a groups reputation within the cybercriminal underground." The best antivirus for all budgets Our top picks, based on real-world testing and comparisons

Read our full guide to the best antivirus 1. Best overall: Bitdefender Total Security 2. Best for families: Norton 360 with LifeLock 3. Best for mobile: McAfee Mobile Security Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds.



======================================================================
Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/pro/security/ransomware-attacks-hit-smbs-harder-than -ever-as-cybercrime-gang-rivalry-heats-up


--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A49 (Linux/64)
* Origin: tqwNet Technology News (1337:1/100)