DDoS Attacks Intensify Despite Decrease in Frequency in Europe

Link11's European Cyber Report for the first half of 2026 reveals a 42% decrease in the number of DDoS attacks targeting European companies. However, the intensity of these attacks has reached record levels, with the highest bandwidth attack recorded at 2.3 Tbit/s, an 85% increase from the previous year. Packet rates also peaked at 322 million packets per second, a 56% rise from 2025. The report attributes this increase in intensity to super-botnets and hijacked cloud servers, which can deliver significantly more bandwidth than traditional compromised devices. The decline in attack numbers is credited to international law enforcement efforts, including the takedown of pro-Russian group NoName057(16) in July 2025 and the shutdown of major IoT botnets in March 2026. Despite fewer attacks, organizations must remain vigilant as the likelihood of repeated attacks increases, with only 44% of targeted customers remaining attack-free for 30 days. The report emphasizes that organizations should not underestimate the potential for rapid escalation in attack intensity.

Key Points: • DDoS attack frequency decreased by 42%, but intensity reached record highs. • Peak bandwidth attack recorded at 2.3 Tbit/s, up 85% from 2025. • International law enforcement efforts are credited with reducing attack counts.