The Hidden Risk in Virtualization: Why Hypervisors are a Ransomware Magnet www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/secu…
Hypervisors are the backbone of modern virtualized environments, but when compromised, they can become a force multiplier for attackers. A single breach at this layer can put dozens or even hundreds of virtual machines at risk simultaneously. Unlike traditional endpoints, hypervisors often operate with limited visibility and protections, meaning conventional security tools may be blind to an attack until it is too late.
From our vantage point in the SOC and threat-hunting space at Huntress, we are seeing adversaries increasingly target hypervisors to deploy ransomware at scale. Specifically, in 2025, Huntress case data revealed a stunning surge in hypervisor ransomware: its role in malicious encryption rocketed from just 3% in the first half of the year to 25% so far in the second half.
The primary actor driving this trend is the Akira ransomware group.This shift underscores the importance of hardening the hypervisor layer with the same rigor applied to endpoints and servers.
In this article, we outline the threats we’ve observed in the wild and provide practical guidance for securing your hypervisor infrastructure, from patching and access control to runtime hardening and robust recovery strategies.
