A Growing Wave of Cyberattacks

The most recent example came in Europe. Collins Aerospace — a check-in technology provider for airlines — was hit with a major cyberattack that rippled through some of the continent’s busiest airports.

The fallout was immediate:

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  Heathrow, Berlin, and Brussels airports were all affected.

  
  


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  By Sunday morning, 38 departures and 33 arrivals had been canceled across the three hubs, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium.

  
  


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  On Saturday, another 60 flights had already been canceled.

  
  

The disruption didn’t just inconvenience travelers — it highlighted how vulnerable critical infrastructure remains. If one company’s systems can cause chaos at multiple major airports, imagine the consequences of a more sophisticated or widespread attack.

And the problem isn’t limited to aviation. Jaguar Land Rover was also forced to extend a pause in production due to a cyberattack. According to the company, its investigation into the breach is still ongoing, and a careful, phased restart of operations will take time. That means lost revenue, damaged brand trust, and frustrated customers.

Unfortunately, these stories are becoming alarmingly routine. Whether it’s financial services, healthcare, transportation, or government agencies, cyber criminals continue to probe for weaknesses — and find them.

Why Attacks Will Only Get Worse

The uncomfortable reality is that most of the world is still poorly prepared for the scale and sophistication of modern cyber threats.

A few key reasons why:

1. 
   

   Expanding attack surface. With the rise of cloud computing, connected devices, and artificial intelligence, there are simply more entry points for attackers than ever before.

   
   


2. 
   

   Geopolitical tensions. Nation-state actors are increasingly using cyber warfare as a weapon, targeting critical infrastructure in rival nations.

   
   


3. 
   

   Financial incentives. Cybercrime is big business. Ransomware payments alone are expected to exceed $30 billion annually by 2030, making it a highly lucrative “industry.”

   
   


4. 
   

   Lagging defenses. Companies often spend years playing catch-up, while cyber criminals evolve their methods rapidly.

   
   

This mismatch means that cyberattacks will continue to disrupt supply chains, shut down essential services, and cost the global economy hundreds of billions each year.

Trading the Chaos

While the threat is grim, there’s another side to the story. Investors can position themselves in companies providing the solutions.

The need for robust cybersecurity infrastructure has never been greater, and businesses and governments alike are pouring billions into protecting data, networks, and operations. According to recent forecasts, global spending on cybersecurity is expected to exceed $300 billion annually by 2026.

One of the easiest ways for investors to gain exposure to this trend is through cybersecurity-focused ETFs. These funds hold baskets of companies specializing in cyber defense, software, and hardware — spreading risk while giving investors direct access to the growth of the sector.