Imagine a world where cybercriminals are stealing over $10.5 trillion globally every single year, a staggering figure driven by relentless ransomware, data theft, and business email scams that impact everything from your personal savings to entire national economies.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, the global cost of cybercrime, including cyber theft, is projected to reach $10.5 trillion annually, up from $8 trillion in 2022, driven largely by ransomware and data exfiltration incidents
- US businesses lost $12.5 billion to cybercrime in 2023, with business email compromise (BEC) accounting for $2.9 billion in theft-related losses
- The average cost of a ransomware attack involving data theft in 2023 was $4.88 million globally, including recovery and stolen data impacts
- In 2023, 88% of organizations experienced at least one cyber theft incident, per global surveys
- US IC3 received 880,418 cybercrime complaints in 2023, with theft-related at 69%
- 83% of breaches involved data theft elements in 2023 DBIR analysis
- Ransomware accounted for 24% of breaches with theft in 2023 DBIR
- Phishing was involved in 36% of data theft breaches in 2023
- Credential theft via infostealers affected 80% of malware in 2023
- 60% of cyber theft occurred in North America in 2023 global reports
- Asia saw 25% of global ransomware thefts, with $1B losses in 2023
- Europe reported 422,000 cybercrime victims, focusing on theft, in 2022 Eurostat
- Cyber theft costs to reach $13.82 trillion globally by 2028, CAGR 15%
- Ransomware attacks projected to hit every 2 seconds by 2031, doubling theft
- Data breaches to expose 17.5 billion records annually by 2025
Global cyber theft costs surged to $10.5 trillion in 2023, devastating all sectors.
Attack Types
- Ransomware accounted for 24% of breaches with theft in 2023 DBIR
- Phishing was involved in 36% of data theft breaches in 2023
- Credential theft via infostealers affected 80% of malware in 2023
- Business email compromise used social engineering in 98% of cases, stealing $2.9B
- Ransomware with data exfiltration rose to 66% of attacks in 2023
- Cryptojacking incidents led to $500M indirect theft losses in 2023
- SIM swapping stole $72 million in crypto from 1,500+ victims in 2023
- Magecart attacks on e-commerce sites increased 53%, stealing card data
- Supply chain compromises like SolarWinds enabled theft in 18% of cases
- Investment fraud via fake apps stole $3.3B, using deepfakes in 12% cases
- DDoS as distraction for theft occurred in 11% of ransomware in 2023
- Fileless malware for credential theft up 225% in 2023 detections
- Vishing (voice phishing) preceded 22% of BEC thefts in 2023
- North Korean Lazarus group responsible for $600M crypto thefts in 2023
- Smishing attacks rose 118%, stealing banking credentials primarily
- Zero-day exploits used in 4% of theft breaches but 20% of high-impact
- Romance scams used AI chatbots in 15% of cases for $1.3B theft
- Insider threats caused 19% of data theft incidents in 2023
Attack Types Interpretation
In the digital arms race of 2023, cybercriminals have perfected a simple yet devastating formula: exploit human nature with phishing and social engineering to steal credentials, then relentlessly automate the actual theft through ransomware, cryptojacking, and an ever-evolving arsenal of fileless and supply chain attacks.
Financial Impact
- In 2023, the global cost of cybercrime, including cyber theft, is projected to reach $10.5 trillion annually, up from $8 trillion in 2022, driven largely by ransomware and data exfiltration incidents
- US businesses lost $12.5 billion to cybercrime in 2023, with business email compromise (BEC) accounting for $2.9 billion in theft-related losses
- The average cost of a ransomware attack involving data theft in 2023 was $4.88 million globally, including recovery and stolen data impacts
- Identity theft complaints in the US resulted in $8.8 billion in losses in 2022, with cyber-enabled methods comprising 70% of cases
- Global cryptocurrency theft via hacks and scams reached $3.8 billion in 2023, a 15% increase from 2022
- The healthcare sector faced $10.1 million average cost per data breach involving theft in 2023, highest among industries
- Phishing attacks led to $52 million in direct theft losses for US consumers in 2023
- Corporate account takeover thefts cost US firms $43 million in wire transfers in 2022
- Ransomware payments globally hit $1.1 billion in 2023, often tied to data theft extortion
- Credit card fraud via cyber theft caused $11 billion in global losses in 2022
- Investment scams online stole $3.3 billion from US victims in 2023
- Data breach fines and settlements cost companies $4.45 million on average in 2023 for theft incidents
- BEC scams resulted in $2.7 billion stolen worldwide in 2022, per FBI estimates
- Retail sector cyber theft losses averaged $3.3 million per breach in 2023
- Personal information theft led to $5.6 billion in fraud losses for US elders in 2022
- Crypto bridge exploits accounted for $2.1 billion in thefts in 2023
- Government entities lost $593 million to cyber theft in 2023 US IC3 complaints
- Average stolen credential value on dark web rose to $150 per record in 2023
- Supply chain cyber theft incidents cost $25 million average in 2023 breaches
- Online romance scams stole $1.3 billion from US victims in 2023
Financial Impact Interpretation
With so many hands in the digital cookie jar, the annual $10.5 trillion global bill for cybercrime proves that crime now pays in cryptocurrency and data, not just cash.
Future Projections
- Cyber theft costs to reach $13.82 trillion globally by 2028, CAGR 15%
- Ransomware attacks projected to hit every 2 seconds by 2031, doubling theft
- Data breaches to expose 17.5 billion records annually by 2025
- AI-driven phishing thefts to increase 300% by 2025, per predictions
- Global cybercrime theft to cost $10.5T in 2025
- Crypto thefts forecasted at $10.5B annually by 2025 due to DeFi
- BEC losses to exceed $50B globally by 2027
- 99% of orgs to face cyber theft by 2025 surveys predict
- Average breach cost to hit $5.5M by 2025, driven by theft
- Identity theft victims to reach 1 in 5 adults by 2030 US
- Quantum computing to enable 40% more credential thefts by 2030
- Ransomware payments to surpass $20B annually by 2031
- Phishing to account for 50% of theft breaches by 2025 DBIR proj
- Dark web data sales to triple to 50M records by 2027
- Small biz cyber theft incidents to rise 25% yearly to 2028
- Global malware for theft to hit 1B samples yearly by 2025
- AI deepfake scams to steal $40B by 2027 predictions
- Supply chain theft breaches to double by 2026
- Healthcare theft costs to $20M average per breach by 2028
- Mobile cyber theft to comprise 40% of incidents by 2027
Future Projections Interpretation
If this avalanche of grim data is any indication, humanity is meticulously constructing a digital Tower of Babel, except this time we’re not arguing over languages but frantically scrambling to protect our wallets, identities, and sanity from an army of bots, ransomware gangs, and our own gullibility.
Geographic Distribution
- 60% of cyber theft occurred in North America in 2023 global reports
- Asia saw 25% of global ransomware thefts, with $1B losses in 2023
- Europe reported 422,000 cybercrime victims, focusing on theft, in 2022 Eurostat
- US had 800,000+ identity theft complaints in 2023, 70% of global total
- India faced 1.6 million cybercrime cases in 2023, mostly financial theft
- Africa crypto thefts via scams hit $500M, 13% global share in 2023
- UK lost £460 million to cyber theft in 2023 Action Fraud reports
- China reported 30,000+ ransomware cases with theft in 2023
- Australia saw AU$33 billion cybercrime cost, theft dominant, 2023
- Middle East phishing thefts up 45%, $200M losses in 2023
- Brazil had 1.3 million cyber theft complaints in 2023
- Canada reported $500M CAD in BEC thefts in 2023
- Russia hosted 60% of phishing sites for global theft in 2023
- Southeast Asia mobile banking thefts cost $1.2B in 2023
- Germany faced 300,000 cyber attacks daily, 40% theft-related, 2023
- South Korea crypto exchanges lost $1.5B to hacks in 2023 peak
- Latin America saw 200% rise in ransomware thefts in 2023
- France reported €2.5 billion cyber theft losses in 2023 ANSSI
Geographic Distribution Interpretation
Despite North America's starring role in this grim production, the relentless global encore of cyber theft reveals a sobering truth: every region is now both a stage and a victim in this costly digital heist.
Prevalence Rates
- In 2023, 88% of organizations experienced at least one cyber theft incident, per global surveys
- US IC3 received 880,418 cybercrime complaints in 2023, with theft-related at 69%
- 83% of breaches involved data theft elements in 2023 DBIR analysis
- Phishing sites increased 58% in 2023, leading to 300,000+ credential thefts daily
- 1 in 10 internet users globally fell victim to identity theft in 2022 surveys
- Ransomware attacks hit record 2,228 victims in 2023, all involving theft threats
- 74% of breaches featured stolen credentials as entry point in 2023
- US consumers reported 1.1 million identity theft cases in 2023 FTC data
- 61% of small businesses faced cyber theft attempts weekly in 2023
- Global data breaches exposed 4.35 billion records in 2023, mostly theft
- BEC incidents reported 21,439 times to IC3 in 2023
- 95% of cybersecurity issues stem from human error enabling theft, 2023 study
- 300,000 new malware samples daily in 2023 target data theft
- 1.1 billion personal records compromised in first half 2023 alone
- 43% rise in ransomware victims self-reporting in 2023 surveys
- 68% of enterprises hit by credential stuffing thefts in 2023
- FTC saw 2.6 million fraud reports in 2023, 40% cyber theft related
- Dark web listings for stolen data grew 27% to 15 million in 2023
- Phishing emails rose to 3.4 billion daily in 2023 estimates
- BEC scams comprised 20% of all IC3 theft complaints in 2023
Prevalence Rates Interpretation
These statistics paint a grim, interconnected picture where a relentless tide of phishing emails, human error, and stolen credentials has made cyber theft not just a common occurrence, but a near-inevitable cost of doing business online for both organizations and individuals.
Sources & References
- Reference 1CYBERSECURITYVENTUREScybersecurityventures.comVisit source
- Reference 2IC3ic3.govVisit source
- Reference 3IBMibm.comVisit source
- Reference 4FTCftc.govVisit source
- Reference 5CHAINALYSISchainalysis.comVisit source
- Reference 6SOPHOSsophos.comVisit source
- Reference 7NILSONREPORTnilsonreport.comVisit source
- Reference 8VERIZONverizon.comVisit source
- Reference 9APWGapwg.orgVisit source
- Reference 10EXPERIANexperian.comVisit source
- Reference 11CAPTERRAcapterra.comVisit source
- Reference 12RISKBASEDSECURITYriskbasedsecurity.comVisit source
- Reference 13AV-TESTav-test.orgVisit source
- Reference 14AKAMAIakamai.comVisit source
- Reference 15RECORDEDFUTURErecordedfuture.comVisit source
- Reference 16RISKIQriskiq.comVisit source
- Reference 17MCAFEEmcafee.comVisit source
- Reference 18LOOKOUTlookout.comVisit source
- Reference 19ECec.europa.euVisit source
- Reference 20NCRBncrb.gov.inVisit source
- Reference 21ACTIONFRAUDactionfraud.police.ukVisit source
- Reference 22MIITmiit.gov.cnVisit source
- Reference 23ACSCacsc.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 24GOVgov.brVisit source
- Reference 25RCMP-GRCrcmp-grc.gc.caVisit source
