From Online Bookstores to Hospitals, Ransomware Hits Everyday Services

SK Shieldus Ransomware Trend Report ( Image courtesy of SK Shieldus)

SEOUL, Aug. 28 (Korea Bizwire) — Global ransomware cases climbed 17 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, with consumer-facing services bearing the brunt of attacks, according to a report released Tuesday by SK Shieldus, a South Korean cybersecurity company.

The firm tallied 1,556 incidents worldwide between April and June. While that marked a 40 percent drop from the first quarter, the company cautioned the decline was temporary, attributing it to the shutdown of several large ransomware groups rather than any easing of the overall threat.

The report highlighted the growing disruption of everyday services. In May, MathWorks — developer of the widely used MATLAB and Simulink engineering platforms — was crippled by an attack that left researchers and engineers around the world unable to access tools for extended periods.

South Korea’s largest online bookstore, Yes24, was also targeted twice, in June and again in August, leading to prolonged service outages during recovery. “Unlike earlier cases focused on corporate data leaks or business disruptions, we are increasingly seeing incidents that cause direct inconvenience and harm to ordinary consumers,” the report said.

Healthcare systems and public agencies have also faced mounting pressure. Major medical institutions reported breaches compromising patient records, while in the United States, McLaren Health disclosed that a 2024 ransomware attack had exposed the personal data of 740,000 people. Local government offices and law enforcement agencies in Tennessee were also among recent victims.

“Ransomware is spreading beyond corporations to directly affect consumers and public institutions, posing an immediate threat to daily life,” said Kim Byung-moo, head of SK Shieldus’s cybersecurity division.

Kevin Lee (kevinlee@koreabizwire.com)