Global Cyber Threats: India Emerges as a Key Target in 2024

According to a report by cyber intelligence firm CloudSEK, India ranked as one of the top nations globally affected by cyberattacks in 2024, with 95 organisations falling victim to data theft. Based on dark web data analysis, the company's Threat Landscape Report 2024 revealed that the United States topped the list with 140 incidents, attributed to its advanced digital infrastructure and economic prominence. India followed closely, highlighting the risks associated with its rapid digital transformation.
The report noted, "India's swift digitisation left 95 organisations vulnerable to cyberattacks, making it the second most targeted nation." Israel ranked third, with 57 organisations targeted, primarily due to ongoing geopolitical tensions.
In India, various sectors were affected, with the financial and banking industry being the hardest hit, accounting for 20 cases. This was followed by the government sector with 13 incidents, telecommunications with 12, healthcare and pharmaceuticals with 10, and education with 9
Significant data breaches exposed millions of records containing sensitive information, including citizen data, customer records, and large volumes of corporate data. The report also recorded 108 ransomware incidents across the country.
Among the ransomware groups operating in India, Lockbit was the most active, responsible for over 20 attacks. Killsec targeted more than 15 organisations, while Ransomhub was linked to over 12 incidents.