The 5 Biggest Ransomware Attacks of 2025

Ransomware isn’t a future threat – it’s a present danger. Even halfway through 2025, ransomware attacks continue to escalate, impacting businesses across every sector. While we hear about huge corporations making headlines, the reality is that small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) are often the most vulnerable. Why? Often, they lack the robust security infrastructure to effectively defend against these evolving threats.

Let’s break down the five most significant ransomware attacks of 2025 so far, what we learned from them, and, most importantly, what you can do to stay safe.

The Damage Report: 2025’s Top 5 Ransomware Attacks

1. MGM Resorts: A $45 Million Wake-Up Call

• The Story: MGM Resorts faced a massive $45 million settlement following a 2023 ransomware attack. The initial point of entry? A single, compromised employee account.
• The Lesson: This highlights a critical vulnerability: social engineering & credential theft. Your people are always your first line of defense.
• Actionable Advice: Strengthen identity management practices. Prioritize regular, comprehensive security awareness training. Phishing simulations are a must!

2. Smiths Group: Manufacturing Under Siege

• The Story: This UK-based manufacturer experienced significant operational disruption and unauthorized access to internal systems due to a ransomware attack.
• The Lesson: Operational Technology (OT) – the systems that control your manufacturing processes – are increasingly targeted.
• Actionable Advice: Layered defenses are crucial. Segment your network to isolate critical systems. Implement enhanced monitoring and intrusion detection.

3. Big Cheese Studio: Protecting the Next Big Hit

• The Story: Polish gaming company Big Cheese Studio had its source code and employee data held hostage by ransomware, with the data leaked publicly after a ransom was not paid.
• The Lesson: Intellectual property is a prime target for cyber-criminals. It’s valuable and often hard to replace.
• Actionable Advice: Implement robust data loss prevention (DLP) solutions. Regularly back up your data – and test your recovery process. The “3-2-1” rule of backups is critical (3 copies of your data, on 2 different media, with 1 offsite).

4. NYC Hospital System: Patient Data at Risk

• The Story: A major New York healthcare network suffered a breach impacting over 1 million patient records. The culprit? Exploiting outdated software and neglecting essential patches.
• The Lesson: Healthcare organizations face tremendous pressure to protect sensitive patient data. Staying current with software updates is non-negotiable.
• Actionable Advice: Prioritize vulnerability management. Establish a rigorous patch management process. Automate where possible!

5. Midwest K-12 School District: Disrupting Education

• The Story: A Midwest school district was forced to shut down for days due to a ransomware attack that crippled learning systems, payroll, and communication tools.
• The Lesson: Public sector organizations, even those on tight budgets, must invest in modern cybersecurity.
• Actionable Advice: Explore cost-effective cybersecurity solutions, including managed security services. A well-defined incident response plan can significantly reduce downtime.

Don’t Be a Target. Be Protected.

SMBs are increasingly becoming easier targets. Your data and operations are valuable – protect them.