Ransomware in 2025 and what to expect in 2026The economic toll of ransomware could be staggering, writes Fabio Assolini, head of research centre: Americas and Europe, Global Research & Analysis Team at Kaspersky. VDC Research and Kaspersky conducted an estimation which showed that in the manufacturing sector alone, potential losses from ransomware attacks (if they had succeeded) could have exceeded $18 billion in the first three quarters of 2025. In 2025, ransomware showed both resilience, evolution and adaptation. As we peer into 2026, ransomware isn’t just persisting – it’s poised for a leap, supercharged by AI’s rapid integration into cybercrime. Ransomware’s 2025 rampage – marked by AI boosts, targeted strikes, and ballooning costs – serves as a warning for the business world.