Cyber attacks rose sharply in the second quarter of 2025, with a global 21% year-on-year increase in weekly attacks per organization, according to Check Point Research. The average now stands at 1,984 attacks per week per organization — 58% higher than two years ago.
Europe experienced the steepest regional growth, with a 22% rise in attacks. While Africa recorded the highest volume at 3,365 weekly attacks per organization, Europe’s increase reflects growing concerns around geopolitical tensions, regulatory fragmentation, and the high value of data held by European organizations.
The education sector remained the most targeted, with weekly attacks reaching 4,388 per organization — more than double the global average. Government and telecommunications sectors also saw major increases, as attackers focus on sensitive data and national infrastructure.
Ransomware incidents, largely sourced from public extortion ‘shame sites’, totalled around 1,600 globally in Q2. North America accounted for over half of these, with Europe second at 25%. Business services, industrial manufacturing, and construction were the most affected sectors.
Check Point urges a prevention-first approach to cyber security, emphasising threat intelligence, zero trust architecture, employee training, and robust backups to mitigate the growing risks in a rapidly evolving threat landscape.
