Ransomware Insights from Q1 2026
TL;DR: The new GRIT Q1 2026 Ransomware & Cyber Threat Insights Report is available
- The ransomware ecosystem was relatively stable in Q1 2026
- We anticipate a late-Q2/early Q3 “summer slowdown”
- New threats are emerging that merit watching such as Iran’s deputized, aligned, or state-sponsored threat groups
The GuidePoint Research & Intelligence Team (GRIT) is back with another insightful report on the state of ransomware and cybercrime from the first quarter of this year. The GRIT Q1 2026 Ransomware & Cyber Threat Insights Report reveals that ransomware activity remained high yet stable throughout the quarter, marked by sustained attack volumes, notable shifts in threat actor behavior, and the continued emergence of new criminal groups. Read on for key learnings, or download the full report now.
How was the Ransomware Landscape in Q1 2026?
This new GRIT report paints a picture of relative stability: the first quarter of 2026 was “business as usual” in the ransomware ecosystem. While GRIT tracked the usual ebbs and flows among specific groups, the overall volume of activity held steady, showing neither substantial quarter-over-quarter nor year-over-year increases.
Is this the Calm Before the Storm?
This period of stable activity could be attributed to a couple of factors: a relative lack of new, significantly disruptive players entering the ransomware space, and potential market saturation leading to a reduced “spread” of actors over time.
That said, after years of tracking the criminal economy, GRIT has learned that periods of normalcy don’t often last long. While no one can predict the future, history suggests that we are likely to see the arrival or departure of at least one major threat group this year, whether due to internal conflicts, law enforcement action, or pressure from rival groups.
The Annual “Summer Slowdown”
One trend to watch as we enter the middle of the year is the “summer slowdown” in victim claims that nearly always occurs between Q2 and the beginning of Q3. In previous years, even after a frenzied start, GRIT has observed a decrease in victim posts. If 2026 continues this trend, expect to see slightly lower numbers in Q2.
New Concerns on the Horizon
For all the relative “good news” of the quarter with ransomware not exponentially increasing, GRIT has new concerns and topics to focus on. For instance, Iran’s deputized, aligned, or state-sponsored threat groups, including nominal “hacktivist” groups such as Handala. These groups pose generally unsophisticated but real threats to U.S. and Western organizations, while tensions and kinetic operations persist in the Middle East. In many cases, successful operations by these groups have stood out more for their psychological effects than their disruptive impacts, but significantly destructive outlier cases have occurred and should be considered as potential outcomes.
Prepare Your Organization for What’s Next
In the Q1 2026 report, GRIT provides some extra detection and mitigation opportunities to accompany their reporting. Read the report to gain insights to help make your environments more secure, resilient, and prepared through the rest of 2026.
Get the Full Report
Download the full GRIT Q1 2026 Ransomware and Cyber Threat Insights Report today.