Ukraine war and geopolitics fuelling cybersecurity attacks - EU agency

Geopolitics like Russia's invasion in Ukraine have led to more severe and widespread cybersecurity attacks over the past year, EU cybersecurity agency ENISA stated in its annual report.

ENISA's study focuses on concerns about state actors and the increasing range of threats to companies, governments, and vital sectors like energy, transport, and banking.

According to the agency, geopolitical events, including the Russian invasion in Ukraine, were major game-changers over the review period.

Zero-day attacks in which hackers exploit software flaws before developers have a chance fix them, as well artificial intelligence-enabled deception and deepfakes, resulted in more malicious, widespread attacks with greater impact.

"Today's global context is invariably driving major changes to the cybersecurity threat landscape," ENISA Executive Director Juhan Lepassaar said, adding that the new paradigm was shaped by the increasing number of threat actors.

The report found that 24% of cyberattacks targeted government agencies and governments, while 13% targeted digital service providers.

In May, the European Union agreed to tighter cybersecurity regulations for key sectors. Companies must assess their risks and notify authorities to take appropriate measures. Fines of up to 2% could be imposed on companies.

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