The ransomware ecosystem continues to evolve and it’s showing no signs of slowing down.

“Qilin and The Gentlemen alone accounted for approximately one in four reported victims in Q2 2026.”

The report notes that the five most prolific ransomware groups collectively claimed more than 40% of all recorded attacks.

“This current iteration presents a ‘four-headed monster’ of Qilin, The Gentlemen, Akira and DragonForce.”

“AI compresses skill requirements for less experienced entrants rather than creating novel capabilities.”

“The landscape is now marked by multiple entrenched players who show no sign of slowing down.”

Laura Babbili is a cybersecurity marketer with a background leading integrated marketing campaigns that engage technical audiences and drive business impact. She has held roles at global companies including TikTok, Cisco and IBM, where she developed and executed strategies around small business, cloud security and IT infrastructure, respectively. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism from the University of Northampton in the United Kingdom and is now based in Austin, Texas, where she lives with her husband, daughter and dog.