WatchGuard Threat Lab Report Finds Top Threat Arriving Exclusively Over Encrypted Connections

New ransomware and extortion groups in the wild –Additionally this quarter, the Threat Lab is excited to announce a new, concerted effort to track current ransomware extortion groups and build out its threat intelligence capabilities to provide more ransomware-related information in future reports. LockBit tops the list for Q3 with over 200 public extortions on their dark web page – nearly four times more than that of Basta, the second most prolific ransomware group WatchGuard observed this quarter.WatchGuard’s quarterly research reports are based on anonymized Firebox Feed data from active WatchGuard Fireboxes whose owners have opted to share data in direct support of the Threat Lab’s research efforts. In Q3, WatchGuard blocked a total of more than 17.3 million malware variants (211 per device) and more than 2.3 million network threats (28 per device). The full report includes details on additional malware and network trends from Q3 2022, recommended security strategies, critical defense tips for businesses of all sizes and in any sector, and more.

For a detailed view of WatchGuard’s research, read the complete Q3 2022 Internet Security Report here.

About WatchGuard Technologies, Inc.

WatchGuard® Technologies, Inc. is a global leader in unified cybersecurity. Our Unified Security Platform® approach is uniquely designed for managed service providers to deliver world-class security that increases their business scale and velocity while also improving operational efficiency. Trusted by more than 17,000 security resellers and service providers to protect more than 250,000 customers, the company’s award-winning products and services span network security and intelligence, advanced endpoint protection, multi-factor authentication, and secure Wi-Fi. Together, they offer five critical elements of a security platform: comprehensive security, shared knowledge, clarity & control, operational alignment, and automation. The company is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, with offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America. To learn more, visit WatchGuard.com.