The UK is one of the dangerous countries on the planet for internet users, new research has claimed. It now sits in third place for the highest number of malware attacks, with 103 million incidents recorded in the last three months alone.
That represents a 7% jump compared with the previous three months, according to cybersecurity firm NordVPN, which released the latest figures. Only the United States and Canada face more attacks overall.
The bad news for Britons doesn’t end there.
While Americans faced 2.91 billion total malware incidents during the three-month period, British users experienced a higher concentration of attacks per device, with 1,473 monthly incidents compared to 1,281 in the US.
Criminals have a terrifying toolkit to spread malware, including adding malicious links in spam emails and text messages, tricking people into navigating to fraudulent websites or downloading dodgy. With so many attacks taking place on British shores, UK internet users must know how to protect themselves.
If you’re unsure of how malware can affect you, think of it like a digital burglary tool.
This malicious software sneaks into your devices and steals your passwords, spies through your webcam, or locks away your precious photos until you pay a ransom. Vulnerability stems from Britain’s deeply digital lifestyle, the research shows.
The UK boasts one of Europe’s most connected economies, where you likely handle banking, shopping, and socialising through your devices daily. Hackers are more likely to target those who are digitally dependent.
Every time you check your online banking, order groceries through an app, or video call friends, you’re navigating the same digital landscape that criminals are actively exploiting.
Sora/GB News | Harmful malware is disguised as an extension and downloaded onto a user’s Google Chrome browser
So, how are criminals tricking so many Britons?
The criminals targeting you have become increasingly sophisticated in their deception. They’re creating fake websites that perfectly mimic trusted brands, with Google being the most frequently impersonated – security researchers discovered 32,420 fraudulent web addresses masquerading as the tech giant.
Yahoo!, Telegram, Steam, Outlook, and Amazon also feature prominently in these impersonation schemes. For example, you might receive an email that looks exactly like your usual Amazon delivery notification, but clicking the tracking link could install malware on your device.
NordVPN Chief Technology Officer Marijus Briedis told GB News: “We’re seeing criminals lean heavily on trusted names like Google and Amazon because these are household names, but the rise in malware using brands like Yahoo and Steam suggest that scammers are becoming more specific to target loyal users.”
Government agencies aren’t off-limits either. Fraudsters regularly pose as His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC), sending fake messages designed to harvest your personal details. These scams exploit your trust in familiar institutions, making it harder to spot the danger until it’s too late.
The broader cybersecurity landscape presents other alarming challenges. Ransomware attacks have reached record levels in 2025, with criminal groups seizing control of company IT systems and demanding hefty payments for their release.
NordVPN Press
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Countries such as Nigeria, Israel, Australia, Great Britain, and the United States are the most affected by malware in the world
Research from Check Point, a cybersecurity company, revealed that organisations face nearly 2,000 cyber attacks weekly. Personal information – including names, birth dates, addresses and even criminal records – has been compromised in millions of incidents.
Identity fraud has also hit unprecedented levels, according to fraud prevention service Cifas, with some victims involved in money loss schemes.
“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,” said Briedis.
If you’re looking for an extra way to protect yourself, investing in a VPN might be a good option.
Several companies offer VPN services in the UK, with popular options including NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, and Proton VPN. Many of these offer malware protection, spam blocking tools, and other add-ons with their monthly subscription plans.
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VPNs can conceal your online activities by routing traffic through an encrypted tunnel that connects to secure servers worldwide. The most reliable VPNs employ the same encryption standard as governments in the United Kingdom and the United States, ensuring that even your Internet Service Provider (ISP) connected to Wi-Fi cannot record the websites you visit, the duration of your sessions on each site, or your current location.
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This protection extends to advertisers, trackers, and hackers, preventing them from monitoring your online behaviour. Furthermore, personal information entered into online forms and sensitive data transmitted to and from your device will be safeguarded from hackers using strong encryption provided by a VPN.
