Inetum notes that ransomware and DDoS attacks have increased significantly again in 2025. Belgium is among the top ten most targeted countries.
Inetum’s new threat report shows that in 2025, Belgium is once again in the global top 10 of countries most frequently targeted by ransomware and DDoS attacks. Inetum regularly provides an update to its world ranking. The report points to an increase in attacks that are increasingly driven by artificial intelligence.
Inetum recorded 29,886 security incidents worldwide in 2025. The largest increases were seen in malware (+197%), intrusions (+82%), and data breaches (+64%). Belgium ranks tenth on the list of most targeted countries, just behind the US, the UK, and France.
Ransomware and DDoS on the rise
Ransomware attacks remained one of the most disruptive forms of cybercrime, with 8,054 confirmed attacks worldwide. This represents an increase of over 20 percent compared to 2024.
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DDoS attacks also reached record highs. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, Cloudflare blocked 20.5 million attacks. Inetum detected 15,000, a significant portion of which were aimed at Belgium. Government institutions, the transport sector, financial services, and educational institutions were particularly affected. The increase in DDoS attacks is partly caused by the use of IoT botnets and paid attack services.
Digital identity the next target
According to the report, digital identity will become a major attack target in 2026 with the introduction of digital identity cards. AI is playing a growing role in cyberattacks, including automated phishing and disinformation campaigns. At the same time, defenses are also adapting with AI-driven detection and automated response mechanisms.
According to Inetum, state-sponsored actors are intensifying their cyber operations against sectors such as energy, defense, and technology. The increasing interconnectedness of geopolitical conflicts and cyberattacks makes countries like Belgium, with its key role within the EU and NATO, particularly vulnerable.
Finally, the report shows a 20 percent increase in the number of known software vulnerabilities. In more than 9,600 cases, these vulnerabilities were publicly accessible via an exploit. This underscores the importance of rapid detection and adequate patching strategies for Belgian organizations.