Cloudflare Mitigates 38.5 Billion Cyberattacks Against Civil Society in 2026

Cloudflare reported blocking 38.5 billion cyberattacks targeting civil society organizations over the past year, with DDoS attacks comprising 81.7% of the malicious traffic. The attacks predominantly affected non-profits, human rights groups, and independent media, with DDoS incidents lasting significantly longer than those faced by other customers, often spanning days or weeks. Media organizations were particularly vulnerable, experiencing 40.5% of website exploit attempts despite being only 22.7% of the Project Galileo participants. Additionally, nearly 10% of emails processed for civil society contained potential phishing material. The report also noted 183 internet disruptions, with 85 linked to government actions, often coinciding with elections or protests. This data underscores the ongoing and evolving threats faced by civil society groups, many of which operate with limited cybersecurity resources.

Key Points: • Cloudflare blocked 38.5 billion cyberattacks against civil society organizations in the past year. • DDoS attacks made up 81.7% of the malicious traffic, often lasting days or weeks. • Nearly 10% of emails for civil society contained potential phishing material.