#USA #Cybersecurity #Dubai #Supply Chain #Group-IB

Group-IB High-Tech Crime Trends Report 2026

In a significant revelation announced on February 25, 2026, Group-IB has released its latest High-Tech Crime Trends Report, emphasizing the alarming rise of supply chain attacks as a primary threat to global cybersecurity. This shift in tactics marks a departure from traditional cybercrimes, which were often isolated incidents, towards more intricate, ecosystem-wide compromises, exploiting trusted relationships between organizations.

According to Group-IB, cybercriminals have honed their strategies to target high-impact sectors, particularly focusing on internet and financial services. The report highlights that these sectors accounted for over 80% of phishing attempts last year. Furthermore, they noted that attackers often begin by compromising individual users, which can create a ripple effect that escalates into widespread breaches affecting customers, partners, and entire systems connected to these organizations.

The term Initial Access Brokers (IABs) emerges prominently in this year's findings, indicating a new class of cybercriminals who facilitate access to compromised networks. Group-IB has identified over 200 cases of corporate access linked to organizations in the Middle East, North Africa, and Turkey being offered for sale in underground marketplaces, showcasing the growing demand for stolen credentials. These access points have become gateways for ransomware attacks and espionage operations on an industrial scale.

In terms of ransomware activity, the report noted a concentration of incidents primarily in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region, where over 100 incidents were reported in 2025. Other nations such as South Africa, Egypt, Morocco, and Turkey also experienced significant attacks. Notably, sectors including real estate, finance, manufacturing, government, and healthcare were among the hardest hit. Group-IB’s findings indicate that ransomware groups are now structured like industrial ecosystems, aiming for maximum operational disruption and financial gain through upstream access.

Dmitry Volkov, CEO of Group-IB, stressed that “cybercrime is no longer defined by single breaches. It is defined by cascading failures of trust.” This shift implies that defensive strategies must evolve; organizations can no longer afford to think in terms of isolated security systems. Instead, a holistic approach to securing trust across all relationships and dependencies is essential to thwart potential breaches.

The High-Tech Crime Trends Report 2026 is underpinned by Group-IB's intelligence from its Digital Crime Resistance Centers across 11 countries, integrating insights from adversary-centric telemetry with on-the-ground investigations. As this threat landscape becomes increasingly complex, organizations must prioritize resilience and adaptability in their cybersecurity frameworks to combat the industrialized nature of modern cybercrime effectively.

In conclusion, as supply chain attacks rise to the forefront of cybersecurity concerns, the takeaway from Group-IB’s latest report is clear: proactive measures are essential to safeguard against these systemic vulnerabilities. By reinforcing trust and securing digital relationships, organizations can mitigate the risks posed by these evolving threats.