Strengthening Europe’s Digital Defences – Cybersecurity
Strengthening Europe’s Digital Defences – Cybersecurity
https://nl.mashable.com/cybersecurity/12984/strengthening-europes-digital-defences
Publish Date: 2026-05-05 14:31:00
Source Domain: nl.mashable.com
Cyberattacks are rising fast across Europe. They’re exposing weaknesses in important infrastructure, healthcare, and business networks, and impacting critical national infrastructure. As more and more people use digital technologies, governments and companies are coming under great pressure to strengthen cybersecurity legislation.
A recent World Economic Forum cybersecurity report found that only 40% of European citizens feel confident their country could handle a major cyber incident. Although unsurprising, it’s concerning that European publics have such little faith in their governments’ abilities to safeguard sensitive data from cybercriminals.
This is compounded by the fact that global ransomware attacks jumped sharply in 2025. The NCC Group Annual Cyber Threat Intelligence Report (2025) explained incidents rose by around 50% year-on-year, reaching nearly 8,000 attacks worldwide.
Cyberattacks Disrupt European Airports
Europe has already experienced the impact of these attacks in different sectors. In September 2025, a ransomware attack on a third-party airline check-in provider caused major disruptions at airports such as Heathrow Airport, Brussels Airport and Berlin Brandenburg Airport. Check-in systems and boarding infrastructure were temporarily shut down, leading to widespread delays and cancellations. The air industry is deeply interconnected, and the incident showed how an attack on one supplier can disrupt travel for thousands of people.
France and the United Kingdom: Two European examples of disruptive cyberattacks
Healthcare systems are also being targeted. On 26 February 2026, France’s health ministry reported that a cyberattack on Cegedim Santé’s software exposed sensitive information belonging to roughly 15 million patients. The breach included names, addresses contact details, and in some cases, confidential notes written by doctors.
Cyber incidents are also causing significant financial losses for companies. In the…
