Cybersecurity Awareness in the Nordics: Safeguarding Trust and Resilience in a Complex Digital and Geopolitical Landscape

The Nordic’s threat landscape: Cyber and beyond

Sweden and Finland’s recent NATO memberships mark a significant shift for the Nordic region and its security dynamics. Finland joined NATO on April 4, 2023, followed by Sweden on March 7, 2024. This expansion was driven largely by the war against Ukraine, which motivated both countries to change their stance by joining NATO to enhance their collective security. Denmark's significant financial aid to Ukraine, measured as one of the highest relative to GDP, underscores its active support in the conflict and positions it as a key player in European security matters. According to the Ukraine Support Tracker, Denmark but also other Nordic countries have allocated substantial resources, not only in direct financial aid but also in military and humanitarian assistance, making all Nordic countries a standout contributor[2][3]. 

The chart below shows the latest Ukraine support tracker data published on 10th of October 2024.  

Hybrid Tactics and Influence Operations

The Nordic countries are increasingly targeted by hybrid tactics and influence operations. These tactics blend cyber-attacks, disinformation, espionage, and economic pressure to destabilize or influence political landscapes without direct confrontation. For example, Norway has faced espionage attempts linked to intelligence gathering on critical infrastructure, while Sweden has observed disinformation and influence campaigns aiming to sway public opinion and exploit social divides. These tactics aim to exploit vulnerabilities across various domains, making it challenging to identify a clear aggressor and complicating effective response measures[6][7].

These attacks leverage misinformation, social media, and fake news to undermine our confidence in institutions. This approach is not new in the Nordic region, but it has intensified due to recent geopolitical shifts. Norway’s recent elevation of its terror threat level in October 2024—linked to attacks on its Danish neighbor—reflects a region increasingly targeted by foreign influence and destabilizing activities[8] Reports have also revealed that Iran actively exploits criminal networks within Sweden as part of its broader influence operations. This highlights a growing vulnerability to foreign influence that targets everything from political processes to social stability[9].

Russia is considered to be the greatest immediate threat across the Nordic region[10], particularly through its hybrid tactics that combine cyberattacks, influence operations, and economic pressure. Norway’s Focus 2024 threat assessment articulates how Russia’s intelligence and military posturing, especially in the High North, in the Arctic and the Baltic Sea, reflects an intention to assert influence and control in areas close to Nordic borders[11]. With the Nordic nations increasingly seen as NATO’s northern front, both Denmark and Norway stress the need for reinforced digital defenses and cross-border cooperation to mitigate risks effectively​.

Further illustrating this, a recent warning from Germany highlighted Russia's active cyber threats against NATO and EU nations, stressing that critical infrastructure and political processes are at risk[12]. The FBI also exposed an extensive Russian disinformation campaign aimed at disrupting elections across Europe, a stark reminder of the stakes involved as democratic nations are in the year of elections in 2024. In a recent investigation into pro-Russian hacktivism, we found that the hacktivist activities are timed campaigns aiming to disrupt democratic processes such as elections. For example, we found Finland being targeted by cyber attacks during their presidential elections in January 2024 but also saw other countries in Europe impacted by those campaigns[13].

For individuals, this trend underscores the importance of verifying information and being cautious about sharing unverified news. For organizations, the threat of cognitive attacks means building transparent communication channels and proactively countering misinformation to maintain public trust.

Operational Technology (OT) Attacks Can Pose Catastrophic Risks

While most people are familiar with IT security, Operational Technology (OT) encompasses systems responsible for physical processes in essential infrastructure like power grids, water plants, and manufacturing. A cyberattack on these systems isn’t just about data loss; it could have devastating real-world consequences, disrupting essential services and potentially putting lives at risk.

In recent years, OT attacks have become increasingly sophisticated. For instance, a cyberattack on a Spanish bioenergy plant’s Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system directly impacted physical operations. This incident illustrates how cyber threats can transition from virtual environments to physical systems with potentially catastrophic outcomes.

OT security in the Nordics – like in many other regions show increased vulnerabilities as IT and OT systems merge, creating new attack surfaces within critical infrastructure. A lack of specialized OT security skills and reliance on traditional IT tools complicates effective protection for sectors like energy and transportation.

Technology evolves, so do Threat Actors

The rapid development of generative AI (GenAI) has revolutionized productivity, enabling organizations to automate processes, analyze data, and improve efficiency. But this technology also brings significant cybersecurity challenges. GenAI can be manipulated to craft highly realistic phishing emails, deepfakes, and master highly sophisticated disinformation campaigns at unprecedented scales, making it a powerful tool for malicious actors. For Sweden and the Nordics, where digital trust is a key aspect of society, GenAI’s vulnerabilities are particularly relevant, especially when new technological developments are misused for malicious purposes that undermine stability.

Additionally, AI itself is also susceptible to attacks. “Prompt injection” tactics are one way that adversaries manipulate AI-generated outputs to produce harmful content. This makes it essential for organizations using AI to understand these vulnerabilities and integrate safeguards to prevent exploitation.

Cybersecurity Awareness: A Shared Responsibility

As the Cybersecurity Awareness Month comes to an end, it’s clear that the digital and geopolitical threats that the Nordic region is facing are complex and interwoven. With cognitive attacks eroding public trust, AI enabling sophisticated cybercrime, and the rise of targeted OT threats, the challenges are immense. The Nordic region has seen a 38% increase in cyber extortion incidents in the past year alone, and several calculated hacktivist campaigns, underscoring the severity of the threat and its impact across Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland.

Awareness is the first step toward resilience. Understanding these trends enables us to make smarter decisions about technology and security, whether by verifying news sources, protecting personal data, or supporting policies for stronger critical infrastructure protections. Cybersecurity is a shared responsibility—one that affects everyone, from tech experts to everyday users. By staying informed, practicing safe digital habits, and advocating for robust security measures, we can help ensure that Sweden and the Nordic region remain resilient in an increasingly complex cyber landscape.