Report: UK cyberattacks grow faster than global rate

Infosecurity Magazine reports that organizations in the United Kingdom experienced fewer cyberattacks than the global average in February, but the pace of increase in attacks rose sharply year-over-year, according to Check Point Research.

The cybersecurity vendor's Global Threat Intelligence report found that companies worldwide faced an average of 2,086 attempted attacks per organization each week in February 2026, reflecting a 9.8% annual increase.

UK organizations encountered a lower average of 1,504 weekly attacks, yet this still represented a steep 36% rise compared with the previous year. Industries such as education, energy and utilities, government, healthcare, and financial services were among the most targeted.

Ian Porteous, regional director for security engineering at Check Point, said the surge may partly reflect a broader trend in which attack levels in Europe and North America are gradually aligning with other regions. Ransomware also remained a major threat globally, with 49 active groups last month, and the Qilin, Clop, and The Gentlemen operations accounting for many incidents.

Written by

Kelley Damore Chief Content Officer CyberRisk Alliance

Kelley Damore is Chief Content Officer at CyberRisk Alliance, where she leads content strategy across the company’s digital brands, research, communities and live events serving CISOs and security practitioners. At CyberRisk Alliance, she is focused on delivering 365-day engagement, trusted journalism and actionable insights to help security leaders navigate an increasingly complex threat landscape.