Norway raises cyber threat level to 'high' amid surge in attacks

Risk level raised to 'high'

The Norwegian National Security Authority (NSM) has raised the national cyber risk level to 'high' — the second highest on its own scale. The decision is justified by the deteriorating security situation and events of recent months. The announcement was made at a press conference on Tuesday, reports Anadolu citing the agency's statement.

What changes for companies

NSM Director Arne Christian Hågøen urged Norwegian businesses to strengthen their digital defenses and immediately patch known software vulnerabilities. According to him, due to the rapid development of artificial intelligence, attackers find and exploit weak points far more effectively: 'Companies have hours, not days or weeks, to close known vulnerabilities.' In a press release, NSM called for implementing preventive measures without delay and published a list of 21 recommended actions for companies across the country. Minister of Justice and Emergency Preparedness Astri Ås-Hansen, according to broadcaster NRK, also urged companies to assess their IT security and promptly fix vulnerabilities.

Scale of attacks

According to Hågøen, the number of successful cyber operations against Norwegian companies tripled over the past year, and several incidents led to serious consequences. One publicly known case was the hack of the Lørenskog municipality, where a large portion of data was stolen and then sold on the darknet. The raised risk level reflects the authorities' growing concern about attackers' ability to exploit digital vulnerabilities, especially against the backdrop of their capabilities being accelerated by artificial intelligence.