Cloudflare celebrates the 11th anniversary of its iconic free cybersecurity program Galileo

Tahawul Tech

12 hours ago

Cloudflare commemorates the 11th anniversary of Project Galileo, its flagship initiative delivering free cybersecurity protection to at‑risk public‑interest organizations across the globe.
Since launching in June 2014, the program has defended journalists, human‑rights groups, independent media, environmental activists, and others working on the frontlines of democracy, civil society, and environmental justice.
Highlights of Project Galileo's Eleventh Year:
An interactive Cloudflare Radar report providing insights into the cyber threats faced by at-risk public interest organizations protected under the project.
An expanded commitment to digital rights in the Asia-Pacific region with two new Project Galileo partners.
New stories from organizations protected by Project Galileo working on the frontlines of civil society, human rights, and journalism from around the world.
Tracking and reporting on cyberattacks with the Project Galileo 11th anniversary Radar report
To mark Project Galileo's 11th anniversary, Cloudflare published a new Radar report that shares data on cyberattacks targeting organizations protected by the program. It provides insights into the types of threats these groups face, with the goal of better supporting researchers, civil society, and vulnerable groups by promoting the best cybersecurity practices. Key insights include:
A growing trend in DDoS attacks against these organizations, becoming more common than attempts to exploit traditional web application vulnerabilities.
Between May 1, 2024, to March 31, 2025, Cloudflare blocked 108.9 billion cyber threats against organizations protected under Project Galileo. This is an average of nearly 325.2 million cyber attacks per day over the 11-month period, and a 241% increase from our 2024 Radar report.
Journalists and news organizations experienced the highest volume of attacks, with over 97 billion requests blocked as potential threats across 315 different organizations. The peak attack traffic was recorded on September 28, 2024. Ranked second was the Human Rights/Civil Society Organizations category, which saw 8.9 billion requests blocked, with peak attack activity occurring on October 8, 2024.
Cloudflare onboarded the Belarusian Investigative Center, an independent journalism organization, on September 27, 2024, while it was already under attack. A major application-layer DDoS attack followed on September 28, generating over 28 billion requests in a single day.
Many of the targets were investigative journalism outlets operating in regions under government pressure (such as Russia and Belarus), as well as NGOs focused on combating racism and extremism, and defending workers' rights.
Tech4Peace, a human rights organization focused on digital rights, was targeted by a 12-day attack beginning March 10, 2025, that delivered over 2.7 billion requests. The attack saw prolonged, lower-intensity attacks and short, high-intensity bursts. This deliberate variation in tactics reveals a coordinated approach, showing how attackers adapted their methods throughout the attack.
The full Radar report includes additional information on public interest organizations, human and civil rights groups, environmental organizations, and those involved in disaster and humanitarian relief.
The dashboard also serves as a valuable resource for policymakers, researchers, and advocates working to protect public interest organizations worldwide.
Global partners are the key to Project Galileo's continued growth
Partnerships are central to the success of Project Galileo. Cloudflare relies on a network of 56 trusted civil society organizations around the world to identify and support groups that would benefit from its cybersecurity protection. With the help of these partners, the company continues to expand its reach, delivering vital tools and resources to communities most in need of digital defense.
Continuing Support for Vulnerable Groups Worldwide
In 2025, many of Cloudflare's Project Galileo partners have faced significant funding cuts, impacting their ability to support communities, defend human rights, and uphold democratic values.
Amid these financial and logistical challenges, maintaining protection for these essential services has become more critical than ever. Cloudflare expresses gratitude to its civil society partners who continue to play a vital role in identifying at-risk organizations in need of support.
Together, they are working toward a more secure, resilient, and open Internet for all.
To learn more about Project Galileo and its global impact, visit cloudflare.com/galileo. Project Galileo case studies can be found here.