Global higher-education cyberattack surge across 67 countries in 2024-2025
Target Trend
Summary
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Across 67 countries, schools and universities saw a 63% rise in recorded cyber incidents, making higher education a more exposed target sector. The increase matters because it spans data breaches, hacktivist activity, and ransomware, raising disruption and leakage risk across teaching, research, and operations. The trend covers November 2023 to October 2025 and shows a broad escalation rather than a single isolated spike.
Related Happenings
Quorum Cyber mitigation guidance for education institutions facing ransomware and hacktivism
Defensive Guidance
First: 23.04.2026 13:30
Last: 23.04.2026 13:30
Sources 1
How related:
Quorum Cyber recommended the following mitigation measures for education institutions:
About this happening:
**Quorum Cyber** issued mitigation guidance for **education institutions** as schools and universities face elevated exposure to **ransomware**, **hacktivism**, and **data breache...
Quorum Cyber mitigation guidance for education institutions facing ransomware and hacktivism
Defensive GuidanceHow related: Quorum Cyber recommended the following mitigation measures for education institutions:
About this happening: **Quorum Cyber** issued mitigation guidance for **education institutions** as schools and universities face elevated exposure to **ransomware**, **hacktivism**, and **data breache...
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Target Trend
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Sources 1
About this happening:
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Target Trend
First: 16.10.2025 17:00
Last: 16.10.2025 17:00
Sources 1
About this happening:
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H1 2025 attack distribution concentrates on the United States and public-sector knowledge institutions
Target TrendAbout this happening: **H1 2025** attack distribution concentrated on the **United States** and on **government agencies, IT providers and research institutions**, increasing exposure for public-sector...
Timeline
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23.04.2026 13:30 2 articles · 1mo ago
Quorum Cyber reports higher-education cyberattack surge across 67 countries
Industry Or Public Sector UpdateQuorum Cyber said schools and universities worldwide saw a 63% rise in recorded cyber incidents, from 260 attacks in November 2023-October 2024 to 425 in November 2024-October 2025, across 67 countries. The trend also included a 73% increase in data breaches, a 75% increase in hacktivist activity, and a 21% increase in ransomware, while infostealer malware, DDoS, defacement, data-leak threats, and nation-state interest in AI, quantum computing and advanced materials research added pressure on the sector.
Show sources
- Cyber-Attacks Surge 63% Annually in Education Sector — www.infosecurity-magazine.com — 23.04.2026 13:30
- Cyber-Attacks Surge 63% Annually in Education Sector — www.infosecurity-magazine.com — 23.04.2026 13:30