Poland Faces Ongoing Cybersecurity Threats from Russia

Polish Digital Affairs Minister Krzysztof Gawkowski stated that Poland is engaged in a continuous cyberwar with Russia, emphasizing that cyber operations never rest unlike conventional military campaigns. Speaking at a digital conference in Berlin organized by the German-Polish Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Gawkowski highlighted Poland’s awareness of potential cyberattacks from Russian intelligence, particularly the GRU, targeting Polish networks. This statement follows the arrest of a Russian suspect in Krakow, accused of hacking several Polish companies’ systems, manipulating their data, and potentially being linked to other cybercrimes across the European Union. Gawkowski also met with Germany’s Minister of Digital Transformation and Administrative Modernization, Karsten Wildberger, to discuss European digital autonomy and support for local tech companies. The heightened vigilance of Poland against cyber threats is largely due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with the government issuing repeated warnings since 2022 about attacks on public institutions, critical infrastructure, and private companies. The article notes that official statements rarely disclose how many attacks may be self-inflicted or offensive actions by Poland itself. Overall, the news emphasizes the persistent and evolving cyber threat landscape facing Poland and its efforts to strengthen national and European cybersecurity.