BusinessCybersecurity

Retail Sector Emerges as Prime Cyberattack Target Across Middle East and Africa

Cybersecurity researchers document surprising targeting patterns across Middle Eastern and African retail sectors. Small to medium retailers face particularly intense pressure from financially motivated hackers seeking quick profits through stolen payment data and ransomware schemes.

Retail Industry Under Sustained Cyber Assault

Despite ongoing geopolitical conflicts and advanced threats to critical infrastructure, the retail sector has emerged as one of the most frequently targeted industries across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, according to recent threat intelligence reports. Cybersecurity firm SOCRadar’s annual “MEA Threat Landscape Report” indicates that retailers face attack volumes comparable to or exceeding those targeting telecommunications and banking sectors, presenting a counterintuitive finding in a region typically associated with politically motivated cyber operations.

Cybersecurity

Ransomware Incidents Surge 36% in Q3 2025, Reaching Record Highs Across Industries

Global ransomware attacks reached unprecedented levels in the third quarter of 2025, with 270 publicly disclosed incidents representing a 36% year-over-year increase. The manufacturing and healthcare sectors bore the brunt of attacks as cybercriminals targeted everything from major corporations to childcare facilities.

Ransomware Epidemic Worsens as Q3 Attacks Spike 36%

Global cyberattacks involving ransomware reached alarming new heights during the third quarter of 2025, with publicly disclosed incidents jumping 36% compared to the same period last year, according to reports from cybersecurity firm BlackFog. The analysis reveals 270 confirmed attacks between July and September, marking a staggering 335% increase since Q3 2020.