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Introduction: A Rare Moment of Progress in the Fight Against Ransomware
Cybercrime continues to evolve at a rapid pace, but in 2025 France experienced a rare and notable development. According to the annual threat report published by Agence nationale de la sécurité des systèmes d’information (ANSSI), known ransomware incidents in the country declined slightly compared to the previous year. While the decrease may appear modest at first glance, cybersecurity experts view it as an important signal that coordinated defensive strategies and international law-enforcement efforts can indeed disrupt cybercriminal operations.
The report highlights the complex cyber threat landscape faced by both public institutions and private organizations across France. Even though ransomware activity showed signs of slowing, attackers are simultaneously experimenting with new techniques such as data extortion and hybrid cyber operations. The evolving tactics used by both cybercriminal groups and nation-state actors indicate that the cyber battlefield remains highly dynamic.
In its assessment, ANSSI not only reviews ransomware activity but also examines broader cyber incidents, emerging threats, and the increasing overlap between criminal and state-sponsored operations. The findings provide insight into how cyber threats are shifting and what organizations should expect in the coming years.
ANSSI Report Shows Slight Decline in Ransomware Attacks
According to ANSSI’s 2025 threat report, the agency documented 128 ransomware incidents across France during the year. This figure represents a slight decrease from the 141 attacks recorded in 2024. While the numbers indicate progress, ransomware remains one of the most significant cybersecurity threats affecting organizations nationwide.
The report emphasizes that ransomware still accounts for a substantial portion of cybercriminal activity. Attackers continue targeting vulnerable organizations, often exploiting outdated systems, weak authentication mechanisms, or compromised credentials to infiltrate networks before launching their encryption or extortion campaigns.
Interestingly, although some cybersecurity vendors have warned about a rising trend of encryption-less cyber extortion, ANSSI’s data suggests that such incidents have remained relatively limited in France during 2025. This indicates that traditional ransomware operations still dominate the threat landscape.
Small Businesses Remain the Primary Targets
The agency found that small and medium-sized businesses continue to be the most frequently targeted organizations. These companies often lack the dedicated cybersecurity teams and resources available to larger enterprises, making them attractive targets for ransomware groups seeking easy entry points.
However, the report highlights a worrying trend involving sectors that play crucial societal roles. Healthcare institutions and educational organizations recorded the most significant increase in ransomware incidents compared to the previous year. These sectors often manage sensitive personal data and rely heavily on continuous operational availability, making them particularly vulnerable to extortion attempts.
The targeting of hospitals, clinics, and schools underscores how cybercriminals increasingly prioritize institutions where operational disruption can create maximum pressure to pay ransom demands.
Dominant Ransomware Families Observed in 2025
Among the various ransomware strains detected by ANSSI during 2025, several groups stood out as the most active. The ransomware known as Qilin ransomware accounted for approximately 21 percent of incidents observed by the agency, making it the most prevalent threat.
Other major ransomware families included Akira ransomware, responsible for about 9 percent of cases, and LockBit 3.0 (also referred to as LockBit Black), which represented roughly 5 percent of incidents.
In addition to these well-known threats, ANSSI also documented the appearance of more than a dozen previously unseen ransomware strains during the year. Notable newcomers included Nova, Warlock, and Sinobi. The emergence of these new variants illustrates how quickly the ransomware ecosystem evolves as attackers constantly develop new tools and rebrand their operations.
Operation Endgame Disrupts the Ransomware Ecosystem
One of the key factors behind the decline in ransomware incidents may be the impact of large-scale law enforcement operations. ANSSI specifically highlighted Operation Endgame as a major effort that disrupted significant parts of the ransomware ecosystem.
This international operation targeted infrastructure used by cybercriminal groups, dismantling command-and-control servers and disrupting malware distribution networks. By attacking the operational backbone of ransomware campaigns, the initiative significantly weakened trust within the cybercriminal community and slowed down certain attack operations.
In addition to law enforcement actions, preventive interventions by cybersecurity defenders, including ANSSI itself, also played a role in reducing successful ransomware attacks.
Cybersecurity Alerts Drop but Incidents Remain Stable
During 2025, ANSSI handled a total of 3,586 cyber alerts requiring assistance from the agency. This represented an 18 percent decrease compared to 2024.
However, the report clarifies that the decline was partially influenced by an unusual surge of alerts in 2024, which were triggered by heightened security monitoring during the 2024 Summer Olympics and the 2024 Summer Paralympics hosted in Paris.
Out of the alerts recorded in 2025, ANSSI confirmed 1,366 cyber incidents involving malicious actors. This number is nearly identical to the 1,361 incidents documented in 2024. The trend indicates that although alert volumes fluctuated, the overall level of malicious activity remained relatively stable.
Surge in Data Exfiltration Incidents
Another significant trend highlighted in the report is the growing number of incidents involving data exfiltration. Cybercriminal groups increasingly attempt to steal sensitive information before launching ransomware attacks, allowing them to threaten victims with public data leaks.
Despite this rise, ANSSI warns that many claims of stolen data should be treated cautiously. Cybercriminal groups frequently exaggerate their access or recycle previously leaked information to pressure victims.
In 2025, ANSSI analyzed 460 potential data leak events. Of these, only 42 percent were confirmed to involve genuine data breaches. The remaining cases were either false claims or involved reused data from older compromises.
Significant Reduction in DDoS Attacks
The report also documented a notable decrease in distributed denial-of-service attacks targeting French organizations. While these attacks remain common globally, ANSSI observed fewer major incidents within France during the year.
This reduction may reflect improved defensive capabilities, stronger mitigation tools, and more effective collaboration between internet service providers and cybersecurity teams.
Blurring Lines Between Nation-State Hackers and Cybercriminals
One of the most concerning findings in the report is the increasing overlap between cybercriminal groups and nation-state threat actors. According to ANSSI, attackers from both categories are increasingly sharing tools, techniques, and operational practices.
This convergence creates what the agency describes as a “technological and organizational fog,” where attribution becomes extremely difficult. Different groups may specialize in specific stages of an attack, such as initial access, malware deployment, or data exfiltration, creating complex multi-actor operations.
The growing collaboration between these actors makes it harder for investigators to determine whether a particular attack was motivated by financial gain, political objectives, or a combination of both.
Concerns About Future Hybrid Cyber Attacks
ANSSI Director General Vincent Strubel warned in the report that recent cyberattacks targeting electrical infrastructure in Poland could represent a preview of future hybrid threats.
Such attacks combine cyber operations with geopolitical strategies, potentially targeting critical infrastructure such as power grids, transportation networks, or communication systems.
Strubel suggested that by 2030, countries like France may face a significant increase in hybrid attacks where cyber operations play a central role in real-world disruption.
However, he also expressed confidence that France possesses the technological and organizational resources needed to counter these threats and significantly complicate the work of attackers.
What Undercode Say:
The Drop in Ransomware Is a Tactical Win, Not a Strategic Victory
The slight decline in ransomware attacks in France should be interpreted carefully. While it is certainly a positive signal, it does not necessarily indicate a long-term downward trend in cybercrime. Instead, it may represent a temporary disruption caused by targeted law enforcement operations and improved defensive strategies.
Cybercriminal ecosystems are highly adaptable. When infrastructure is dismantled or key actors are arrested, new groups often emerge to fill the gap. The appearance of new ransomware families such as Nova, Warlock, and Sinobi demonstrates how quickly attackers reorganize after disruptions.
Ransomware Groups Are Evolving Their Business Models
One of the most important shifts happening within ransomware operations is the transition from pure encryption attacks to data-centric extortion strategies. Even though ANSSI observed limited encryption-less extortion cases in France, globally many ransomware groups are experimenting with double and triple extortion models.
These models involve stealing sensitive data, threatening to leak it publicly, and sometimes even targeting customers or partners of the victim organization. This approach allows attackers to maintain leverage even when organizations have reliable data backups.
Small Businesses Remain the Weakest Link
The continued targeting of small and medium-sized businesses highlights a persistent cybersecurity gap. Many SMBs still operate without strong incident response strategies, advanced threat detection systems, or continuous monitoring.
Attackers understand this weakness and often use smaller companies as entry points to access larger supply chains. A compromised SMB vendor can sometimes provide attackers with indirect access to enterprise environments.
Healthcare and Education Are Becoming Strategic Targets
The increase in ransomware attacks against healthcare and education sectors should be considered a serious warning sign. Hospitals rely heavily on digital infrastructure for patient care, while schools and universities manage vast amounts of personal data.
Cybercriminal groups exploit the urgency of these environments. When critical services are disrupted, organizations may feel pressured to pay ransoms quickly in order to restore operations.
Data Exfiltration Is Becoming the New Cyber Weapon
The rising number of data leak claims demonstrates how cybercrime is shifting toward information warfare tactics. Even when attackers fail to encrypt systems, stolen data alone can cause massive reputational damage and regulatory consequences.
The fact that many leak claims turn out to be exaggerated also shows how psychological pressure plays a key role in cyber extortion. Attackers rely not only on technical capabilities but also on manipulation and fear.
Attribution Is Becoming Increasingly Difficult
The growing overlap between nation-state actors and cybercriminal groups creates a complex challenge for investigators. Shared tools, outsourced attack phases, and ransomware-as-a-service platforms make it harder than ever to determine who is responsible for a cyber incident.
This ambiguity can benefit attackers strategically. Governments may hesitate to retaliate or escalate responses when attribution is uncertain.
Cybersecurity Is Becoming a National Defense Issue
The concerns raised by ANSSI about hybrid cyber attacks highlight a broader reality: cybersecurity is no longer just an IT issue. It is now a national security priority.
Critical infrastructure systems such as energy grids, transportation networks, and telecommunications are increasingly targeted by sophisticated attackers. Disruptions to these systems could have real-world consequences far beyond data loss.
The future of cybersecurity will depend heavily on cooperation between governments, private companies, and international law enforcement agencies.
Fact Checker Results
✅ ANSSI reported 128 ransomware incidents in France during 2025 compared to 141 in 2024.
✅ The ransomware families Qilin, Akira, and LockBit 3.0 were among the most commonly observed threats.
❌ Not all claimed data leaks were real breaches; only about 42 percent were confirmed as genuine compromises.
Prediction
🔮 Ransomware groups will increasingly shift toward data theft and extortion rather than system encryption alone.
🔮 Hybrid cyber attacks targeting critical infrastructure will become a major geopolitical concern before 2030.
🔮 International law enforcement operations will continue disrupting ransomware networks, but new groups will quickly emerge to replace them.
🕵️📝✔️Let’s dive deep and fact‑check.
References:
Reported By: www.infosecurity-magazine.com
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