Universities have found themselves in the firing line of cybercriminals, as ransomware attacks against higher education institutions have increased, analysis of recent incidents has revealed.
According to the Comparitech’s Education Ransomware Roundup for the first half of 2026, the number of attacks against higher education providers between January and June increased by 8% when compared with the previous six months.
The report, published on July 23, pointed to the rise of The Gentlemen ransomware operation as a key factor in the surge of attacks against the sector.
The group’s attacks on education increased 275% in the first half of 2026, compared with the second half of 2025, and 80% of the gang’s attacks against the education sector were against colleges and universities.