#Japan #Cybersecurity #Tokyo #Check Point #Qilin

Check Point Research: Major Cyber Threats in October 2025

Check Point Software Technologies has released its latest Global Threat Intelligence Report through its research arm, Check Point Research (CPR), highlighting the ongoing escalation of cyber threats worldwide. For October 2025, organizations faced an alarming average of 1,938 cyber attacks per week—a notable increase of 2% from September and 5% year-over-year. The report particularly points to rising ransomware activities, with the notorious group Qilin issuing statements following their attack on the major Japanese beverage company Asahi Group Holdings. Such incidents underscore the continuing global escalation of cyber threats, influenced largely by the rising risks associated with generative AI.

Rise in Data Leakage Risks Due to Generative AI

With the increasing adoption of generative AI tools across businesses, CPR has identified significant risks related to data leaks. In October, prompts sent from enterprise networks revealed a high risk of data leakage in 1 out of 44 cases. Alarmingly, 87% of organizations regularly using generative AI were affected. Furthermore, it was found that 19% of prompts contained sensitive information, including internal communications, customer data, and proprietary code. This data underscores the urgent need for robust AI governance and data protection measures.

Most Affected Industries

Education and research continue to be the most targeted sectors against cyber threats, experiencing an average of 4,470 attacks per organization per week, marking a 5% increase over last year. The telecommunications sector followed closely with 2,583 weekly attacks (a 2% increase), while government and military organizations faced an average of 2,550 attacks, indicating that key infrastructures and high data-reliant environments remain at high risk.

Regional Comparisons

Regionally, Latin America suffered the highest volume with an average of 2,966 attacks per organization per week, representing a striking 16% year-over-year increase. Africa and APAC showed slight decreases of 15% and 8%, respectively, year-over-year. Conversely, Europe saw a modest increase of 4%, while North America recorded the most severe escalation with an 18% increase as ransomware threats intensified.

The State of Ransomware Attacks

Ransomware continues to be one of the most severe cyber threats, with 801 reported cases globally in October 2025, representing a staggering 48% year-over-year increase. 62% of these incidents took place in North America, followed by 19% in Europe. The United States alone accounted for 57% of global ransomware cases, with Canada at 5% and France at 4%.

The sectors most heavily affected included business services (12%), consumer goods and services (10.5%), and industrial manufacturing (10.4%). The most active ransomware groups in October were Qilin (22.7%), Akira (8.7%), and Sinobi (7.8%), accounting for approximately 40% of reported attacks. Qilin, which began its operations around July 2022, gained significant attention for its attack on Asahi Group Holdings earlier in September. The group’s leak site included multiple names of Japanese companies, raising ongoing concerns about its activities in Japan. Meanwhile, Sinobi, a newer entrant on the ransomware scene, specifically targets healthcare-related organizations in the U.S.

Check Point's Perspective

The data from October 2025 not only highlights the rising total of attacks but also reveals a worrisome surge in successful ransomware incidents. Additionally, the risk of data leakage via generative AI is emerging as a new avenue for attackers. Such evolving threats present fresh challenges for defenders. The most effective countermeasure remains a prevention-first approach, utilizing real-time AI and proactive threat intelligence to thwart attacks before they can occur.

About Check Point Research

Check Point Research provides the latest cyber threat intelligence focused on Check Point customers and the broader threat intelligence community. The team of over 100 analysts and researchers collects and analyzes data on cyber attacks through Check Point’s ThreatCloud AI, working in collaboration with security vendors, law enforcement, and various CERT organizations to strengthen cybersecurity measures globally.

For more information:
Check Point Official Website
Check Point Blog
Check Point Research Blog
YouTube Channel
LinkedIn Page
Twitter/X
* Facebook Page