Manufacturing Remains a Prime Ransomware Target.
More than 800 ransomware victims have already been reported in 2026. Manufacturing ranks among the most affected sectors.
Ransomware.live tracks victims that ransomware groups publicly disclose on their leak sites. Its data shows activity from 315 groups in 2026. The actual number of attacks is likely higher. Many incidents never become public.
Manufacturing records the second-highest number of victims. Only the technology sector ranks higher. Healthcare, finance, and retail report fewer cases. The figures show that ransomware poses a recurring threat to industrial companies.
The most active ransomware groups.
Several groups account for a large share of the published cases:
- SafePay: Runs frequent campaigns across multiple sectors
- RansomHub: Reports a growing number of victims on its leak site
- Akira: Targets Windows and Linux environments in mid-sized and large companies
- Qilin: Operates internationally and targets industrial organizations
- Cl0p: Exploits vulnerabilities in third-party software and supply chains
- LockBit: Remains active despite international law enforcement action
Many groups divide tasks among specialized actors and automate parts of their attacks. They often use double extortion. Attackers encrypt data and threaten to publish stolen information.
Complex IT and OT environments offer multiple points of entry. They also make it harder to identify affected systems and restore operations.
Countries with the most reported victims.
The data shows a concentration of reported ransomware victims in five countries:
- United States
- Germany
- Canada
- United Kingdom
- India
The United States records considerably more victims than any other country in the ranking. However, leak-site data does not provide a complete picture. Reporting practices, market size, and attacker behavior can influence country comparisons.
What manufacturers should do now.
Ransomware can disrupt more than business data. If an attack reaches production systems, it can stop operations and delay recovery.
Manufacturers should segment IT and OT networks and control communication between them. They should restrict access according to operational requirements and monitor every permitted connection.
They also need an up-to-date view of:
- OT assets and their locations
- Installed software and firmware versions
- Connections and dependencies between IT and OT
- Configuration changes
- Available and validated backups
Teams need this information before an incident occurs. During an attack, they must quickly identify affected systems, trace unauthorized changes, and access known good configurations.
Companies that document their OT environments, monitor changes, and test recovery procedures can detect incidents earlier. They can also limit downtime and restore production in a controlled way.
