EMEA Threat Landscape Report 2026

Key Insights from EMEA’s Cyber Threat Landscape

• Data Theft Dominates Dark Web Activity: Data and database leaks account for 70.42% of dark web posts, while 23.11% involve access sales, showing that stolen information and system entry points remain the most valuable underground commodities.
• Selling Drives Underground Markets: 67.58% of dark web activity involves selling stolen data or system access, confirming the region’s cybercrime ecosystem is heavily profit-driven.
• Government Institutions Are Highly Targeted: Public Administration leads dark web exposure with 11.71%, followed by Retail Trade (11.07%) and Finance and Insurance (10.79%).
• Western Europe Dominates Dark Web Discussions: France (5.32%), the United Kingdom (3.87%), and Spain (3.48%) appear most frequently in dark web discussions targeting EMEA organizations.
• Phishing Focuses on Digital Infrastructure: Information Services leads phishing exposure with 15.81%, while banking and financial platforms collectively account for more than 21% of attacks.
• Phishing Campaigns Concentrate on Key Countries: The Netherlands (15.70%) and Russia (14.31%) are the most targeted countries for phishing operations in the region.
• HTTPS Increases Phishing Credibility: Around two-thirds of phishing pages now use HTTPS, allowing attackers to mimic legitimate websites and improve the success rate of credential harvesting campaigns.
• Ransomware Activity Is Highly Concentrated: The United Kingdom alone accounts for 27.31% of ransomware incidents in the region.
• Qilin Leads the Ransomware Landscape: The Qilin ransomware group leads with 16.9% of attacks, while most other activity remains fragmented among smaller groups.

Why This Report Matters

Cyber threats across EMEA continue to revolve around data monetization, credential abuse, and ransomware extortion. Government agencies, financial institutions, and digital service providers remain prime targets because they manage large volumes of sensitive data and critical infrastructure. As attackers increasingly leverage encrypted phishing infrastructure, underground marketplaces, and ransomware-as-a-service operations, organizations must adopt intelligence-driven security strategies to maintain visibility and resilience across a rapidly evolving threat landscape.

Take Action Now

Strengthen your organization’s defenses with SOCRadar’s extended threat intelligence capabilities:

• Dark Web Monitoring: Detect leaked data, stolen credentials, and access listings before they are weaponized.
• Ransomware Intelligence: Track active ransomware groups and identify emerging threats targeting your region or industry.
• Phishing Detection & Response: Monitor brand impersonation and credential harvesting campaigns across global infrastructure.