Ransomware attacks hit another near-record high in the first quarter of 2026, according to a new report from Travelers.
In the first quarter, 2,405 ransomware victims were posted to leak sites, down just 2% from the record-breaking high set in Q4 2025 and up 7% from the year prior. Since 2022, ransomware claims have increased 80%, according to Travelers data.
There were also 84 active ransomware groups in the first quarter, the highest number Travelers has seen since 2020. For comparison, there were 70 active ransomware groups during the same period a year ago.
Travelers says this fragmentation can make it harder to combat ransomware attacks. Catching one ransomware group becomes less impactful when attacks are spread out among multiple, changing actors, and a greater number of actors can carry out a greater number of attacks. Ransomware activity has tripled since 2022, the report notes.
The biggest ransomware groups in the first quarter were Qilin, which posted 414 victims, and the Gentlemen, which posted 207 victims. Targeted organizations included financial services firms, hospitals, government agencies and IT providers.
The report also highlights the rising risks associated with AI adoption in the workplace. The report notes that 43% of U.S. workers now use AI on the job, a faster adoption rate than personal computers or the internet, and many companies aren't ready to navigate the challenges it presents.
Some organizations have restricted AI use, which has led employees to use AI tools on personal devices instead, increasing data exposure for the company. At other organizations, adoption has been encouraged but without sufficient rules and oversight. This has led to unpredictable interactions between overlapping tools and AI agents doing things employees didn't intend for them to do.
The report says organizations need to establish formal governance before increasing their AI use. That includes one individual or committee in charge of AI decisions, a documented acceptable use policy, mandatory training and human-review requirements for AI-assisted decisions.
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