China is moving to significantly strengthen its cybercrime laws, introducing a draft bill that would impose exit bans of up to three years on citizens convicted of cyber-related offenses after they complete their sentences. This comes alongside recent amendments to the Cybersecurity Law, which took effect on January 1, 2026, dramatically increasing fines for various cybersecurity violations.
Security Councils of Belarus and Russia held interagency consultations in Moscow on January 29, 2026, to strengthen cooperation in information security. Discussions focused on assessing the international situation, enhancing interagency interaction, and updating cooperation plans within the Union State framework.
France announced on January 27, 2026, its plan to replace American video conferencing services like Zoom and Microsoft Teams within government agencies with a proprietary tool named Visio. This move aims to enhance security, protect confidentiality, and reduce dependence on non-European technology, aligning with France's digital sovereignty strategy.
Chinese state-sponsored hackers reportedly compromised the mobile phones of senior Downing Street aides between 2021 and 2024. The espionage operation, attributed to the group Salt Typhoon, potentially exposed private communications and metadata, with concerns that the threat remains ongoing.
Chinese state-sponsored hackers reportedly compromised the mobile phones of senior UK government officials, including aides to former prime ministers Boris Johnson, Liz Truss, and current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, between 2021 and 2024. The alleged breaches, part of a global cyber-espionage campaign known as 'Salt Typhoon,' are believed to have accessed private communications and metadata, though China denies the accusations.
Germany and Israel have signed a comprehensive cyber and security pact, deepening cooperation in cybersecurity. The agreement, signed by German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, focuses on Germany learning from Israel's 'Cyber Dome' to enhance its own digital defenses against evolving threats, including joint development of AI and drone defense.
Hackers briefly interrupted Iranian state television's satellite transmissions on Sunday, January 18, 2026, to broadcast footage of exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi. The broadcast included messages urging security forces to join protesters and not to target citizens, occurring amidst ongoing nationwide unrest in Iran.
Bulgarian opposition leader Bozhidar Bozhanov has warned that a new contract with Microsoft for the state administration poses long-term risks to national security and digital sovereignty. His concerns focus on cloud-based data management and control over encryption keys.
Nigeria and the United States have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening collaboration in data privacy, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. This renewed partnership aims to foster a secure and trusted digital ecosystem, crucial for Nigeria's rapidly expanding digital economy. Key initiatives include capacity building and joint efforts to address emerging digital challenges.
The Russian Federation is set to roll out a comprehensive package of new measures by September 2026 to combat the escalating threat of cyber and telephone fraud. These initiatives, building on previous efforts, aim to enhance digital security, improve verification processes, and introduce stricter controls to protect citizens and financial institutions from fraudulent activities.
China has instructed domestic firms to cease using cybersecurity software from over a dozen U.S. and Israeli companies, including VMware, Palo Alto Networks, Fortinet, and Check Point Software Technologies. The move, effective as early as January 18, 2026, is driven by national security concerns over potential data transmission abroad and aims to bolster technological self-reliance amid rising tech tensions.
German Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have signed a significant security pact in Jerusalem, aiming to bolster Germany's infrastructure protection against cyber threats and expand cooperation in counterterrorism and advanced technologies. The agreement underscores a deepening strategic partnership between the two nations.
Germany has transposed the EU's NIS2 Directive into national law with the NIS2UmsG, effective December 6, 2025. This legislation introduces stringent cybersecurity requirements for approximately 29,500 businesses across various critical sectors, expanding the scope from the previous NIS Directive and mandating enhanced risk management, incident reporting, and management accountability.
Taiwan's critical infrastructure faced an average of 2.63 million daily cyberattacks in 2025, a 6% increase from 2024, with China identified as the primary source. The attacks targeted nine key sectors, notably energy and healthcare, and often coincided with Chinese military and political activities.
Lithuania's Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis has called for stronger Baltic cooperation on critical infrastructure security following the recent severing of an optical cable between Lithuania and Latvia in the Baltic Sea. The incident, which occurred on January 2, 2026, near Liepaja, is under investigation amidst heightened regional concerns over hybrid threats.
Turkish cybersecurity researcher Hasan İsmail Gülkaya, 28, received an official thank-you letter from NASA for identifying four critical security vulnerabilities in the agency's systems. His findings, reported through NASA's Vulnerability Disclosure Program, allowed the agency to address potential risks, including access to executive meeting details and financial damage.
The German Federal Government has proposed significant reforms to the GDPR, aiming to shift data protection responsibilities from users to manufacturers and providers of standard IT products. This initiative, part of its Federal Modernization Agenda, seeks to reduce administrative burdens and enhance legal clarity.
More than 200 Latvian citizens have been detained as part of an international investigation into a sophisticated 'refund fraud' network. The scheme, which involved Ukrainian law enforcement, laundered over €1.6 million through cryptocurrency platforms, primarily targeting young individuals for recruitment.
Russia's long-tolerated illicit market for personal data, known as 'probiv,' is now being actively exploited by Ukrainian intelligence, leading to significant security breaches. The Kremlin is scrambling to rein in the sprawling ecosystem, with new laws and increased penalties, as the market's backfire poses a growing threat to national security.
The Danish Defence Intelligence Service (DDIS) has attributed a 2024 cyberattack on a Danish water utility and 2025 DDoS attacks on Danish websites to pro-Russian groups Z-Pentest and NoName057(16), respectively. Denmark views these incidents as part of Russia's 'hybrid war' tactics, aiming to destabilize and punish countries supporting Ukraine. The attacks caused physical damage and disrupted online services.
