Technology

Europe Ransomware Attacks Up 29%, TicTac Research Finds

Published

2 hours ago

August 11, 2026

TicTac Cyber Security has updated its research on ransomware attacks across Europe and recorded 1,115 attacks in the first half of 2026, a 29% increase over the same period in 2025. April 2026 was the worst month ever recorded on the continent, with 245 attacks, and the year is on track to close with roughly 2,250 attacks. The research also finds that business services, including law firms and accounting practices, are on pace to overtake manufacturing as Europe’s most targeted sector by the end of the year. The firm’s earlier forecast for 2025 came within 98.7% of the final total.

ATHENS, Greece, Aug. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — TicTac Cyber Security, a Greek cybersecurity and data recovery firm and Acronis Platinum Partner, has released an update to its research into ransomware attacks across Europe, first published in 2025. The updated analysis recorded 1,115 attacks across the continent in the first half of 2026 alone, a 29% increase over the same period in 2025. April 2026 was the worst month ever recorded on the continent, with 245 attacks. If the current pace holds, 2026 is on track to close with approximately 2,250 attacks, which would make it the third consecutive record year.

“The data does not show more attacks. It shows different targets. Attackers now go after organizations that hold other companies’ data, because that is where the pressure to pay is highest,” Mike Mingos, co-founder and COO of TicTac Cyber Security.

The update tests the accuracy of TicTac’s original 2025 study, which forecast that European ransomware attacks would exceed 1,746 by the end of that year. The year closed with 1,723 recorded attacks, putting the original forecast within 98.7% of the final figure.

Key Findings

Attacks have climbed every year since tracking began: 847 in 2023, 1,335 in 2024, 1,723 in 2025, and 1,115 in the first six months of 2026 alone.Qilin is the most active ransomware group in Europe, responsible for 191 attacks, or 17.1% of the total, in the first half of 2026. TheGentlemen, a group that did not exist a year earlier, has already climbed to second place with 140 attacks, or 12.6%.LockBit has returned under a new name, LockBit 5.0, and is back inside the top five most active groups after nearly disappearing in 2025.Manufacturing narrowly remains Europe’s most targeted sector at 17.04% of attacks, with business services close behind at 16.41%.Germany was the hardest-hit country with 229 attacks, followed by the United Kingdom with 202, France with 133, Italy with 126 and Spain with 98. The five largest economies account for roughly 70% of all recorded attacks.

Business Services Are Closing In on Manufacturing

The most significant shift in the 2026 data is a reversal that unfolded within a single quarter. In the first quarter of 2026, manufacturing led decisively, with 95 attacks against 46 for business services, a nearly two-to-one lead. In the second quarter that gap flipped entirely: business services, including law firms, accounting practices and consultancies, recorded 137 victims against 95 for manufacturing. Based on this trend, the research projects that business services will overtake manufacturing to become Europe’s most targeted sector by the end of 2026, a first since tracking began in 2023.

Today’s Leading Groups Were Unknown Three Years Ago

In 2023, a single group, LockBit3, was responsible for more than one in four ransomware attacks across Europe, at 26.74%. Within two years it had effectively disappeared from the leading actors, replaced by groups such as Qilin and TheGentlemen, both of which were either unknown or nonexistent at the time. Based on this same pattern of turnover, the research forecasts that at least two of today’s top ten groups will themselves disappear or rebrand by mid-2027.

Methodology

The analysis covers ransomware activity across Europe from January 2023 through June 30, 2026. Data was collected through the official ransomware.live API and filtered to isolate incidents affecting European countries, then categorized by sector, ransomware group and country. Only publicly reported and confirmed incidents attributed to known ransomware groups are included, which means the findings represent the visible portion of ransomware activity and the true number of incidents is likely considerably higher.

About TicTac Cyber Security and Social Active

TicTac Cyber Security is a Greek cybersecurity and data recovery firm and an Acronis Platinum Partner. Since 1999 the company has handled thousands of data recovery and incident response cases, with services spanning penetration testing, security assessments, NIS2 compliance and incident response. The research was conducted by Social Active an award-winning B2B marketing and research agency on behalf of TicTac Cyber Security.

Read the full research here: https://tictac.gr/en/blog/ransomware-attacks-in-europe/

Media Contact

Andreas Kougentakos, SocialActive, 30 6972813399, press@socialactive.com, https://socialactive.com

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Technology

ePayPolicy Makes Inc. 5000 List for 5th Year in a Row

Published

34 minutes ago

August 11, 2026

The company ranked no. 2267 on the annual list, while also surpassing 12,000 active customers on their insurance payments platform.

NEW YORK, Aug. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Inc. today announced that ePayPolicy is No. 2267 on the annual Inc. 5000 list, the most well-known ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in America. The list provides a data-driven snapshot of the most successful companies within the economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent, entrepreneurial businesses. Past honorees include companies such as Microsoft, Meta, Chobani, Oracle, and Patagonia.

This was ePayPolicy’s 5th time to apply, and 5th time in a row to earn a spot on the list. The company also recently surpassed 12,000 insurance customers on their payments network.

“We’ve looked forward to the Inc. 5000 awards these last 5 years because they bring attention to the team’s hard work, and are like mile markers for our growth,” said ePayPolicy CEO Mark Engels. “And while we’re proud of what we’ve accomplished so far, we’re even more excited about what we still have in front of us.”

“Every company on the Inc. 5000 has a story of perseverance, smart decision making, and a refusal to sit still,” says Mike Hofman, editor-in-chief of Inc. “Their growth reflects more than strong financial performance–it reflects creativity, resilience, and the customer focus required to build companies that make a lasting impact. We congratulate all honorees on this significant achievement.”

ePayPolicy’s platform is built solely for the insurance industry, serving carriers, MGAs, premium finance companies and agencies. What began with a mission to make online ACH and credit card payments more accessible for the industry over 10 years ago has expanded to a collection of AR/AP tools designed to make sending and receiving payments a seamless experience, across the connected insurance payments network. Recent feature announcements, such as Finance Connect and Network Payables, enhance the connectivity, speed and security of payments across the insurance payments network.

About ePayPolicy
ePayPolicy offers easier payment tools, built just for insurance. ePayPolicy’s products bring insurance payments up to speed for agencies, carriers, MGAs and premium finance companies, with secure online payment pages, automated check processing, payables reconciliation and more. Over 12,000 insurance companies trust ePayPolicy and their expert, live support team to handle their payments every day.
Learn more: ePayPolicy.com

Inc. 5000 Award Methodology
Companies on the 2026 Inc. 5000 are ranked according to percentage revenue growth from 2022 to 2025. To qualify, companies must have been founded and generating revenue by March 31, 2022. They must be U.S.-based, privately held, for-profit, and independent—not subsidiaries or divisions of other companies—as of December 31, 2025. (Since then, some on the list may have gone public or been acquired.) The minimum revenue required for 2022 is $100,000; the minimum for 2025 is $2 million. As always, Inc. reserves the right to decline applicants for subjective reasons.

Media Contact:
Justin Jaksha
8443729300
420274@email4pr.com

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Technology

CodeMettle Awarded First Option Year on Five-Year Army Indefinite Quantity Indefinite Delivery (IDIQ) Contract Awards

Published

34 minutes ago

August 11, 2026

CodeMettle’s INB2 software enables automated command and control for the Army’s next-generation edge network orchestration solution.

ATLANTA, Aug. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — CodeMettle has been awarded the first Option Year on its five-year Indefinite Quantity Indefinite Delivery (IDIQ) contract awarded in 2025 to deliver ConOptic commercial product software licenses and post-deployment support services for the U.S. Army’s Integrated Network Operations Battalion and Below (INB2), Command and Control Network Optimized for Warfighting (C2NOW), and Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) programs. The award reinforces CodeMettle’s expanding role in enabling unified, resilient, and modernized tactical networks across the Department of Defense (DoD). With a ceiling value of $45.2 million, the IDIQ establishes long-term software license procurement and technical support flexibility under these programs and across the Army.

Under the direction of the Capability Program Executive Command and Control Information Network (CPE C2IN) and Project Manager Command and Control Data/Artificial Intelligence (PM C2 Data/AI), the contract provides the foundation for fielding, training, software support, cybersecurity, engineering, and advanced troubleshooting to thousands of existing and new ConOptic users Army-wide.

CodeMettle’s ConOptic software platform and INB2 solution is a critical enabler of next-generation radio management and edge network orchestration, capabilities that are central to the Army’s Tactical Network Operations (TNO) strategy and crucial for maintaining advantage in disconnected, degraded, and contested environments. This contract includes the ongoing delivery of software licenses to support satellite communication operations, radio and waveform integration, and distributed network visualization and management.

“Our capabilities unify and simplify the Army’s Integrated Tactical Network from the edge to the enterprise,” said Richard Graham, CEO at CodeMettle. “Regardless of the environment, we deliver scalable and intuitive software that empowers the warfighter with decision advantages at the edge through real-time network management and control as well as enhanced situational awareness.”

About CodeMettle

CodeMettle develops scalable commercial software for defense, government, and commercial organizations. Its products address complex data integration, network operations, and process-management challenges in demanding operational environments.

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Technology

Executive Presence Recognized on the 2026 Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies

Published

34 minutes ago

August 11, 2026

DENVER, Aug. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Inc., the media brand and playbook for entrepreneurs and business leaders, announced that Executive Presence has earned a coveted spot on the 2026 Inc. 5000 List, an annual prestigious ranking of the fastest-growing private companies in the U.S., released today, showcasing the best of the best in entrepreneurial business. Ranked by percentage revenue growth from 2022 to 2025, the Inc. 5000 list provides a data-driven snapshot of the country’s most resilient and dynamic privately held companies. This marks a significant milestone for Executive Presence, a diverse team of ex-consultants, writers, and media strategists who specialize in replacing corporate white noise with meaningful ideas that spark conversations.

With an overall national ranking of 1451 and one of 110 companies recognized this year that were started in 2022, Executive Presence joins an elite group of businesses that have demonstrated not only impressive revenue growth but also agility and resilience in an ever-changing environment.

“This recognition is a testament to our team’s relentless drive and our ability to adapt and iterate,” said Justin M. Nassiri, Founder and CEO of Executive Presence. “Everything we do is about learning and responding, like a heat seeking missile. For our clients, we see what content works so we can create more of it. For LinkedIn, we see what works as a platform so we can take advantage of that. So, iteration is really important.”

According to Inc.com, The 2026 Inc. 5000 honorees have demonstrated exceptional growth while navigating economic uncertainty, inflationary pressure, and a fluctuating labor market. Together, this year’s honorees generated more than $385 billion in 2025 revenue, created 627,208 jobs in the past three years, and posted over $200 billion in revenue growth since 2022—underscoring the vital role that entrepreneurial businesses play in driving the U.S. economy.

“We’ve challenged ourselves this year to grow not just in numbers, but by being intentional about who we work with,” says Nassiri. “We’ve become better at working with the right type of leaders and organizations by selecting those who have a differentiated viewpoint and something to say publicly. Being named to the Inc. 5000 is a powerful affirmation of the dedication our team brings every day and the meaningful relationships we’ve built with our clients and partners. I’m proud that what started as a hyper niche focus – executive thought leadership on LinkedIn -has expanded into something that every company sees the value in. This is no longer an exploration or a bet – this has become table stakes for companies.”

Complete results of the 2026 Inc. 5000, including company profiles and a searchable database, can be found at https://www.inc.com/inc5000

About Executive Presence
Executive Presence is a strategic communications firm composed of former consultants, writers, and media strategists who specialize in turning leaders into thought leaders. They take individuals within a company and use their point of view, their experience, and their network to amplify a company’s message. Executive Presence replaces conventional corporate white noise with compelling, conversation-starters designed to elevate executive brands and amplify corporate messaging. Utilizing LinkedIn as its primary medium, Executive Presence partners with leaders to turn their core insights into authentic industry influence. For more information, please visit https://executivepresence.io/

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