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Executive Summary

Poland presents a fascinating paradox in 2025’s global cybersecurity landscape: ranked 2nd globally in the National Cyber Security Index for preparedness, yet simultaneously suffering the highest ransomware attack rate worldwide at 6% of all global incidents—surpassing even the United States. With 113,600 serious cyberattacks recorded in 2024, 2,100 weekly attacks on government and military institutions, and 68.9% of companies experiencing at least one cybersecurity incident, Poland has become both Eastern Europe’s digital fortress and its most targeted battlefield.

This Central European nation of 38 million sits at a dangerous crossroads: geographically positioned between NATO allies and an aggressive Russia, technologically advanced with sophisticated defense capabilities, yet facing relentless state-sponsored attacks from Moscow’s GRU, organized cybercrime syndicates, and an explosion of social engineering scams targeting its innovative BLIK mobile payment system. Poland’s experience serves as a critical case study for what happens when a nation excels at cybersecurity preparation but faces overwhelming attack volume that even the best defenses struggle to contain.

Bottom Line Up Front: Poland’s cybersecurity crisis isn’t about lack of preparation—it’s about being the primary target in a geopolitical cyber war while simultaneously battling the world’s most sophisticated ransomware operations and homegrown payment fraud epidemic.

The Numbers Tell a Startling Story

Attack Volume and National Impact

Poland experienced 113,600 serious cyberattacks in 2024, with NASK reporting over 130,000 cyber incidents during the same period. Weekly attack rates on government and military institutions average 2,100 incidents—comparable to Czech Republic and Hungary (2,200) but significantly higher than Slovakia (1,400) or Germany (1,300).

In the first half of 2025, Poland ranked first globally for detected ransomware attacks, accounting for 6% of all worldwide incidents—surpassing even the United States. This represents an alarming escalation for a country with less than 1% of global population.

Only 59% of Polish businesses use basic cybersecurity software, leaving more than a third with no protection at all. Perhaps most concerning: 88% of organizations in Poland have already faced at least one cyberattack or data breach in recent years.

The Human Factor Crisis

Only 19% of Polish workers know what ransomware is. While more recognize terms like “phishing” or “identity theft,” the lack of comprehensive training leaves companies dangerously exposed.

Poland’s ability to meet the demand for cybersecurity professionals is critically low, covering only about 15% of demand. Europe faces a shortage of around 400,000 cybersecurity specialists, exacerbating this challenge.

Financial and Operational Impact

A staggering 68.9% of surveyed companies confirmed experiencing at least one cybersecurity incident in 2023, marking an increase of 5 percentage points compared to 2022. Poland recorded one of the highest rates of cyberattacks affecting business activity at 29.7%, just behind the Netherlands (30.1%) and Finland (43.8%).

Despite these risks, only 26.4% of companies have established procedures to handle security attacks and incidents, leaving a vast majority vulnerable to potential breaches.

The Ransomware Nation: Poland’s Unwanted Global Leadership

Why Poland Became Ransomware Target #1

Poland took the top spot in a ranking no country wants to lead: ransomware attacks. In the first half of 2025, Poland surpassed even the United States, with 6% of all global ransomware attacks happening in Poland.

Several factors converge to make Poland particularly attractive to ransomware operators:

Geographic and Geopolitical Positioning: Poland has rapidly become a prime target, especially from Russian actors. Its position as a NATO frontline state and vocal supporter of Ukraine makes it a strategic target for Russian state-sponsored groups and their criminal affiliates.

Economic Development: Poland’s rapid digital transformation created a large attack surface before security maturity caught up. Companies digitized operations without proportional security investments.

Payment Capability: Unlike targets in less developed regions, Polish businesses and institutions have the financial resources to potentially pay ransoms, making them attractive targets for profit-motivated criminals.

Critical Infrastructure Concentration: In 2023, cybercriminals linked to Russia targeted the Warsaw Stock Exchange. According to CSIRT GOV, there were 1,022 attacks on critical infrastructure operators, 736 on ministries, 629 on public offices, 380 on state authorities, and 274 on security services.

Recent High-Impact Ransomware Incidents

Banking Sector Under Siege: BS in Zambrow fell victim to a ransomware attack in early 2024—customer data was encrypted and e-banking ceased to function. In 2023, BOS was attacked by various hacking attacks on e-banking services, causing temporary problems for customers accessing certain services.

In 2024, cyber criminals targeted customers of mBank, Alior Bank, and PKO BP among others.

Government and Military Focus: Public administration remains the second-most targeted group by ransomware, just after healthcare. In May 2024, Poland thwarted an attack by Russia’s GRU (Main Intelligence Directorate), which sought to paralyze key governmental institutions.

New Attack Techniques: The ClickFix Threat

One of the most dangerous techniques now is called ClickFix. Ransomware gangs aren’t just growing in number—they’re getting smarter, more creative, and even fighting among themselves. In March this year, one group of hackers (DragonForce) actually took down a rival ransomware platform (RansomHub).

The BLIK Phenomenon: Innovation Meets Exploitation

Poland’s Mobile Payment Revolution

Poland has created something unique in the European payments landscape: BLIK, a mobile payment system that has achieved extraordinary adoption. By the end of 2024, the number of active BLIK users (bank applications with at least one transaction) reached 18.5 million—58 out of 100 people aged 15 and older. By 2023, about half of Poles declared using this payment method.

By the end of 2018, the value of BLIK transactions related to consumer spending accounted for 0.7% of total household consumption in Poland. By 2024, this figure rose to 11%, with all BLIK operations reaching nearly PLN 350 billion. Over the decade, the average annual growth rate exceeded 100%.

The Dark Side: BLIK-Based Fraud Epidemic

Poland’s payment innovation has become a primary attack vector for sophisticated fraud schemes:

Facebook Account Takeover Scams: The most popular type of phishing involves impersonating the Facebook account owner and sending private messages to people who are added to the ‘friends’ list in the account, asking for a transfer using BLIK mobile payment system.

Between 2019 and 2020, Polish Police reported fraud incidents involving BLIK ATM withdrawals. These typically occurred when perpetrators gained access to a victim’s social media account, requested BLIK codes from the victim’s contacts under false pretenses for a loan, and then used these codes for cash withdrawals.

Phishing Campaign Evolution: Cybercriminals impersonating the BLIK company claimed there was a chance to receive a reward. They used Facebook ads to distribute phishing sites. In reality, they were phishing for BLIK codes.

Multi-Platform Attack Campaigns

The sophistication of Polish scammers extends across multiple vectors:

Bank Impersonation: Criminals impersonating Polish banks published ads on Facebook and sent email messages. Under the guise of a supposed opportunity to receive a prize and the need to confirm a phone number, they extracted electronic banking authentication data and payment card information.

Criminals impersonating PKO Bank Polski purchased ads on Google search and linked them to fake websites closely resembling the login pages for the bank’s electronic banking services for business clients. By doing this, the attackers exploited search engine positioning.

E-commerce and Brand Exploitation: Cybercriminals, impersonating a KFC employee, informed about a supposed opportunity to receive coupons. They used social media ads and a deepfake video for distributing a phishing site. In the video, a purportedly fired KFC employee reveals secret discount codes for purchasing food.

Cybercriminals published ads on the Facebook platform, advertising the alleged opportunity to buy 24 cans of Coca-Cola and receive a refrigerator, all for only 9 PLN. In reality, the website linked in the ad was designed to phish for payment card details using a “subscription model.”

Courier and Delivery Scams: In 2022, the most popular type of phishing was using the image of the courier company InPost. Criminals impersonated courier companies, using InPost’s image, informing about the need to complete the delivery address. They encouraged clicking a link leading to a phishing site to steal payment card information.

The Scale of Social Engineering

In Poland, most cyber incidents reported were attributed to social engineering. Compared to 2022, there was a notable rise in the number of incidents falling into this category. These incidents primarily stemmed from social engineering campaigns disseminated through email.

In 2022, there were over 25,600 unique phishing incidents in Poland. Cybercriminals often exploit the reputation of Polish banks to increase the credibility of phishing campaigns. According to the Polish Financial Supervision Authority’s (KNF) monthly “Overview of Selected Scams”, banks frequently targeted in phishing schemes include BNP Paribas, Millennium Bank, Nest Bank, ING Bank, and Bank Pekao, among others.

State-Sponsored Cyber Warfare: Russia’s Digital Front

The GRU’s Polish Campaign

In 2024, Poland became one of the most frequently targeted countries in Europe by cybercriminals. On average, 2,063 attacks per month hit the public sector, and 2,058 targeted military and government institutions.

According to experts from Palo Alto Networks, such activities may intensify in light of this year’s presidential elections. What was once primarily a business concern—DDoS attacks, phishing emails, and ransomware—has become a geopolitical threat. Cybercriminals, often acting on behalf of hostile state services, now use digital attacks to destabilize political systems across Europe.

Critical Infrastructure Targeting

With more than 4,000 cyberattacks reported against state sectors alone in 2024, bolstering national cyber resilience is no longer optional—it’s a strategic imperative.

The targeting is systematic and prioritized: According to CSIRT GOV, there were 1,022 attacks on critical infrastructure operators, 736 on ministries, 629 on public offices, 380 on state authorities, and 274 on security services.

Poland’s Defense: World-Class Preparation Meets Overwhelming Volume

Global Cybersecurity Leadership

Despite being the world’s most targeted nation for ransomware, Poland has achieved remarkable defensive capabilities:

Poland has the strongest cyber security, according to the National Cyber Security Index. The NCSI measures a country’s ability to prevent cyber threats and manage cyber incidents. As of March 2024, Poland was ranked second in the world in the National Cyber Security Index.

Poland achieved ninth place in the National Cyber Security Index and 30th place in the Global Cybersecurity Index in 2024.

Advanced Defense Systems

ARAKIS-GOV Early Warning System: To counter these threats, Poland has implemented the ARAKIS-GOV early warning system, designed to support government and critical infrastructure defense against cyberattacks.

CSIRT GOV Coordination: Poland’s Computer Security Incident Response Team operates within NASK (Research and Academic Computer Network), providing comprehensive incident response and coordination across sectors.

International Cooperation: Poland secured the 6th position in the cybersecurity ranking according to The Cyber Defense Index 2022/23 published by “MIT Technology Review.”

Regulatory Alignment with EU Standards

Poland is actively implementing comprehensive EU cybersecurity frameworks:

NIS-2 Directive Implementation: As detailed in Compliance Hub Wiki’s comprehensive NIS-2 guide, Poland must transpose the directive into national law by Q4 2024. Meeting the requirements of new regulations such as DORA, NIS-2, and the AI Act—among others—will be a major challenge for organizations in 2025.

DORA for Financial Sector: Poland’s large banking sector must comply with the Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA). Learn more in our DORA Compliance Guide.

Cyber Resilience Act: Polish manufacturers of connected devices must now meet lifecycle security requirements under the EU’s evolving cybersecurity landscape.

The Resource Gap Challenge

Despite strong frameworks, execution faces critical constraints:

Experts emphasize that both public and private sectors in Poland need significant investment in cybersecurity talent. A report by the National Chamber of Digital Economy reveals substantial gaps in digital education, particularly among older citizens, compared to other European nations.

“Too many businesses still see cybersecurity as something you deal with after something goes wrong,” says Dawid Zięcina from DAGMA IT Security. “It’s not treated like a long-term investment—until it’s too late.”

What’s Not Working: Critical Gaps in Poland’s Cyber Defense

Preparation vs. Protection Paradox

Poland’s high preparedness rankings mask dangerous implementation gaps:

  1. The 41% Vulnerability: Only 59% of Polish businesses use basic cybersecurity software, meaning more than a third are flying blind with no protection at all.2. The Procedure Gap: Only 26.4% of companies have established procedures to handle security attacks and incidents.3. The Awareness Crisis: Only 19% of Polish workers even know what ransomware is.

Investment Misalignment

While Poland invests in national-level cybersecurity infrastructure, small and medium enterprises lack resources for basic protections. This creates a two-tier system where government and large enterprises maintain strong defenses while SMEs—which make up the majority of Polish businesses—remain vulnerable attack vectors.

The Enforcement Challenge

Poland has strong laws and frameworks but faces challenges in enforcement and compliance verification, particularly among smaller organizations. Many companies implement minimal compliance rather than effective security.

What Poland Is Doing Right: Lessons for Other Nations

Transparency and Information Sharing

Public Threat Intelligence: CSIRT KNF (Financial Supervision Authority CSIRT) publishes monthly “Overview of Selected Scams” reports with detailed technical indicators, helping organizations identify and block current threat campaigns.

Cross-Sector Collaboration: Poland has established effective public-private partnerships for threat intelligence sharing, enabling faster response to emerging threats.

Innovative Payment Security

Although there are scams based on BLIK code fraud, in which a system user voluntarily shares the code under the influence of scammers and then approves transactions, BLIK’s security architecture limits damage compared to traditional payment fraud.

The six-digit code valid for only two minutes significantly reduces the attack window compared to static card numbers.

Incident Response Excellence

Poland’s rapid response capabilities, particularly in government and critical infrastructure sectors, have successfully mitigated several major attack attempts. The 2024 GRU attack thwarting demonstrates effective detection and response capabilities at the national level.

Protection Strategies: What Individuals and Organizations Can Do

For Individuals

BLIK-Specific Protections:

  • Never share your BLIK code with anyone, even if they claim to be from your bank- Banks will never ask for BLIK codes via phone, email, or social media- Verify any unexpected requests for money from “friends” by calling them directly- Set transaction limits in your banking app for added protection

General Digital Hygiene:

  • Use unique, strong passwords for every account- Enable multi-factor authentication on all critical accounts- Verify sender identity before clicking any links in messages- Check URLs carefully—phishing sites often use slight misspellings- Be skeptical of “too good to be true” offers on social media

Social Media Security:

  • Review and limit who can see your friend list on Facebook- Enable login alerts to detect unauthorized access- Don’t accept friend requests from people you don’t know- Be cautious of messages asking for money, even from “friends”

For Organizations

Immediate Actions (Based on Polish experience):

  1. Implement Basic Protections: Train employees regularly and teach them how to spot phishing, social engineering, and scams like ClickFix. Create strong security policies and test them with simulations or drills.2. Deploy Modern Tools: Antivirus software is a must, but add EDR or XDR to monitor suspicious activity. Turn on multi-factor authentication, especially for sensitive accounts.3. Maintain Offline Backups: Keep backups offline, so if an attack happens, you can recover quickly.4. Limit Access: Only give employees access to what they need to do their job.

Long-Term Investments:

  • Develop comprehensive incident response plans tested through regular drills- Invest in security awareness training at all organizational levels- Establish security operations center (SOC) capabilities or outsource to managed security service providers- Conduct regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing- Implement zero-trust architecture principles- Develop supply chain security requirements for vendors

Regulatory Compliance:

Polish organizations must prepare for comprehensive EU regulatory requirements. Resources available at Compliance Hub Wiki include:

The Geopolitical Context: Why Poland Matters to Global Cybersecurity

NATO’s Digital Frontline

Poland’s cybersecurity challenges cannot be separated from its geopolitical position. As a NATO member state bordering Russia and Belarus, Poland serves as a critical buffer and potential flashpoint. Russian state-sponsored cyber operations against Poland serve multiple purposes:

  • Intelligence gathering on NATO capabilities and positioning- Destabilization efforts targeting political and economic systems- Testing ground for cyber warfare tactics that may be deployed elsewhere- Distraction campaigns to overwhelm defensive resources

Implications for Western Europe

Poland’s experience provides early warning for threats that will likely spread westward. Attack techniques refined against Polish targets often appear weeks or months later targeting organizations in Germany, France, and beyond. Monitoring Polish threat intelligence provides valuable predictive capabilities for Western defenders.

The Ukrainian Connection

Poland’s strong support for Ukraine and its role as a primary logistics corridor for Western military aid makes it a strategic target for Russian hybrid warfare operations. Cyber attacks on Polish infrastructure aim to disrupt aid flows and undermine public support for Ukraine assistance.

Looking Forward: Poland’s Cybersecurity Trajectory in 2025-2026

Emerging Threats

AI-Enhanced Social Engineering: Ransomware gangs are moving fast, and Polish businesses need to move faster. This isn’t just a tech issue anymore, it is a business survival issue. Expect increased use of AI-generated deepfakes in BLIK scams and business email compromise attacks.

Supply Chain Targeting: As direct attacks on large organizations become more difficult, attackers will increasingly target smaller suppliers and service providers as entry points.

Mobile Device Exploitation: Poland’s high mobile payment adoption creates new attack surfaces, particularly as more business transactions move to mobile platforms.

Reasons for Optimism

Strong Foundation: Poland’s top-tier cybersecurity preparedness rankings reflect genuine capability. The infrastructure, expertise, and frameworks exist to mount effective defenses once resource and awareness gaps are addressed.

EU Support: Poland’s integration into EU cybersecurity frameworks brings resources, expertise, and coordination mechanisms that strengthen national capabilities. The implementation of NIS-2 and DORA will force minimum security standards across critical sectors.

Growing Awareness: High-profile attacks and media coverage are finally translating into increased organizational investment in cybersecurity. The ransomware epidemic, while painful, is driving necessary cultural change.

Innovation Capacity: Poland’s technology sector continues to grow rapidly, with increasing numbers of homegrown cybersecurity companies developing solutions tailored to local threat landscape.

What Success Would Look Like

By 2026, success for Poland would mean:

  • Ransomware incident rates declining from current 6% of global total to regional average- Business cybersecurity adoption increasing from 59% to above 80%- Employee awareness of key threats rising from 19% to majority levels- Reduction in successful BLIK fraud through enhanced authentication and user education- Effective implementation of NIS-2 across all covered entities- Stabilization of state-sponsored attack impacts through improved defensive coordination

The Polish Paradox: Lessons for the World

Poland’s cybersecurity crisis offers a sobering lesson: world-class preparation at the national level cannot fully compensate for gaps in implementation at the organizational level, particularly when facing overwhelming attack volume driven by geopolitical factors.

Key takeaways for other nations:

  1. Preparation ≠ Protection: High scores on cybersecurity indexes don’t prevent attacks. Implementation and awareness at every organizational level matters more than national-level frameworks.2. Volume Overwhelms Excellence: Even sophisticated defenses struggle when attack volume reaches Poland’s levels. Defense in depth must account for resource exhaustion scenarios.3. Innovation Creates Attack Surface: Poland’s BLIK system represents genuine payment innovation, but rapid adoption outpaced security awareness. New technologies require proportional security investment.4. Geopolitics Drives Cyber Risk: Poland’s threat landscape is fundamentally shaped by its geographic and political position. Cyber risk assessment must account for geopolitical factors, not just technical vulnerabilities.5. The SME Vulnerability: Large organizations and government can maintain sophisticated defenses, but SMEs lack resources. National security depends on raising the baseline for all organizations, not just the largest.6. Awareness Is Infrastructure: Technical controls matter less than many believe when 81% of workers don’t understand basic threats. Security awareness isn’t a “soft” issue—it’s critical infrastructure.

Resources and Reporting

For Polish Residents and Businesses

Report Cybercrime:

BLIK Fraud Reporting:

  • Contact your bank immediately through official channels in your banking app- Report to CERT Polska- File police report if financial loss occurred

Stay Informed:

International Resources

EU Cybersecurity:

Global Threat Intelligence:

From Breached Company:

From Compliance Hub Wiki:

Conclusion: The Test Case for Digital Resilience

Poland in 2025 represents both a warning and a blueprint. The warning: even sophisticated national cybersecurity capabilities cannot fully protect against overwhelming attack volume driven by geopolitical factors and profitable criminal opportunities. The blueprint: strong foundations in policy, regulation, and infrastructure create resilience that, while insufficient alone, provides the framework for eventual success.

The key takeaway for organizations is that achieving 100% security against cyberattacks is impossible. Instead, companies must focus on building resilience by implementing effective solutions and planning for incident response.

For the global community, Poland’s experience demonstrates that cybersecurity is not merely a technical challenge but a geopolitical, economic, and social issue requiring coordinated response across all levels of society. The nation that can be both 2nd in global cybersecurity preparedness and 1st in ransomware victimization illustrates a fundamental truth: in 2025’s threat landscape, defense requires not just excellent preparation but sustained vigilance, continuous adaptation, and recognition that cyber warfare is already here—and Poland is on the front line.

The question isn’t whether your organization or nation will face what Poland faces, but when—and whether you’ll be ready.

**For updates on global cyber threats and scam prevention strategies, visit **www.scamwatchhq.com

**For comprehensive privacy and compliance guidance, explore **www.compliancehub.wiki

**For the latest breach intelligence, check **www.breached.company

Remember: Cybersecurity is not just a technical skill—it’s a life skill. Stay informed, stay vigilant, and stay protected.

Š 2025 ScamWatchHQ / CISO Marketplace Ecosystem. May be shared freely for educational purposes with attribution.

This article is part of the Global Scam Series 2025, documenting cybercrime and fraud patterns across the world’s most affected nations.

Research Sources

This article draws from multiple authoritative sources including:

  • Poland’s CERT Polska and NASK incident reports- CSIRT KNF monthly scam overviews- ENISA threat landscape assessments- National Cyber Security Index data- ESET ransomware tracking- Lexology cybersecurity analyses- Poland Insight security reporting- Financial sector breach reports- EU regulatory implementation guidance

For source citations and additional research, see inline references throughout the article.