Global ransomware attacks doubled year over year in July 2026, according to new Check Point research, as worldwide cyber threat volumes hit record highs. The security vendor's July 2026 threat report found ransomware activity roughly 87% higher than the same month in 2025 — effectively double — while the average organisation faced more weekly attacks than at any previously recorded point. The same research flags a quieter but growing risk: GenAI data exposure is widening, as employees feed sensitive business data into public AI tools and attackers weaponise generative AI to build faster, more convincing campaigns.
What the July 2026 threat data shows
Check Point's researchers track attack attempts across networks, endpoints and cloud environments worldwide. The July 2026 findings include:
- Ransomware volumes roughly doubled year over year, up about 87% compared with July 2025.
- Record-high weekly attack volumes against organisations in most regions, including Africa.
- GenAI data exposure widening, with AI assistants becoming a new leak vector for sensitive corporate data.
- More AI-assisted campaigns, as attackers use generative tools to craft phishing lures and new malware variants faster.
Why GenAI exposure makes ransomware worse
Ransomware groups do not need to be technically brilliant — they need one foothold. When staff paste customer records, credentials or source code into consumer AI tools, that data can surface in training sets or be reused in targeted attacks. Combined with double extortion, where attackers steal data before encrypting systems, a single leak becomes a full business crisis.
What this means for businesses that buy software in Uganda and Africa
There is no safe harbour in company size or geography. Ugandan banks, telecoms, retailers and government contractors all process payments and personal data that attackers can monetise. A successful ransomware attack can halt operations for days, trigger regulatory scrutiny and permanently damage customer trust. For businesses buying software services, the practical question is no longer whether you will be targeted, but whether your vendors built security in from the start.
Practical takeaway: assume breach, verify everything
Cost-effective defences still stop most attacks:
- Patch exposed systems — unpatched applications remain the top entry point.
- Enforce multi-factor authentication on every admin and financial account.
- Back up critical data offline and test restoration regularly.
- Publish an AI usage policy defining what data may never enter public tools.
- Have an incident response plan ready before you need it.
Security is a design decision, not an afterthought. Jasphine Digital Technologies helps organisations across Uganda build secure software and resilience plans, so a record threat year does not become a record loss year.