Research from cyber security firm NordVPN has found the UK is now the third most targeted country in the world for malware, with over 100 million cyber attacks over the past three months.

The report found that cyber-criminals are increasingly targeting everyday internet users through links within emails and texts, as well as through malicious websites and attachments.

The UK now ranks behind only the United States and Canada in terms of malware activity, having experienced a 7% rise between the first and second quarter of 2025.

NordVPN's report also highlighted how people in the UK might be "prime targets" for hackers due to the country's digital economy and relatively large disposable income. Cyber criminals have been posing as big tech companies such as Google, Amazon and Telegram (as well as government agencies like HMRC) and attempting to deceive victims through fake emails or texts.

Marijus Briedis, Chief Technology Officer at NordVPN, said: “Our data shows that online threats are steadily increasing, not only in number but also in complexity. Malware has become the Swiss Army knife of online crime. It’s no longer just about viruses - today’s malware can steal login credentials, hijack webcams, clone credit cards, and encrypt entire photo libraries in seconds. It’s fast, silent, and often invisible until it’s too late.”

There are also reports of a record number of ransomware attacks in 2025, where threat actors hijack a company’s IT systems and then refuse to release them without a ransom fee being paid.

Research from Check Point published in April this year showed that UK organisations were being hit with nearly 2,000 cyber attacks every week. Fraud prevention service Cifas also reported a record number of cases of identity fraud in the UK, with some victims losing hundreds of thousands of pounds to scammers.