Global cyber attacks in 2026 target infrastructure, data and businesses

Cybercriminals and state‑linked hacker groups intensified their operations in the first half of 2026, affecting governments, corporations and ordinary citizens worldwide. Notable incidents include an alleged leak of the entire U.S. Social Security database to an unsecured third‑party server, attacks on energy and water infrastructure in Poland, Sweden and Norway, and a breach of medical‑technology maker Stryker by hackers tied to Iran that erased data on thousands of devices.

The ShinyHunters group continued its campaign, compromising Instructure’s Canvas platform and exposing personal information of more than 30 million students and staff. Supply‑chain attacks on open‑source projects further amplified the risk for thousands of dependent companies. Experts warned that the heightened geopolitical tension between the United States, Israel and Iran could make critical infrastructure a primary target of future digital campaigns.