The malware trend that makes up the largest percentage of attacks in the UK in 2025 is phishing. Phishing attacks account for the majority of cyber breaches, with 84% of incidents involving phishing in 2024 and it being recognized as the most common type of cyber attack experienced in the UK. This trend continues to pose a major threat, surpassing even ransomware or other malware types in frequency.

Key Points on UK Malware Trends in 2025:

• Phishing attacks are the leading malware trend, involved in 84% of all cyber incidents reported in the UK in recent data from 2024-2025.
• Ransomware is also significant but accounts for a smaller share comparatively, with about 34% of reported cybercrime incidents being ransomware attacks.
• The UK is highly targeted due to its digital economy and high per capita income, making it a prime target for phishing scams, smishing, and other social engineering attacks.
• Cybercriminals use impersonation tactics posing as major corporations or government agencies to extract personal and financial information.
• There has been a slight decline in the proportion of businesses reporting phishing (from 42% in 2024 to 37% in 2025), but phishing remains the dominant vector for malware delivery and cyber attacks.

Therefore, phishing remains the largest malware trend by percentage of attacks in the UK in 2025, making it the most critical threat vector for individuals and organizations to defend against.