Types Of Cyberattacks
Cyberattacks are evolving fast. What used to be the work of isolated hackers is now a global industry powered by sophisticated threat actors, nation-states, and cybercrime syndicates. Whether you’re a cybersecurity professional, an IT admin, or just someone who wants to protect your organization or personal data, understanding the types of cyberattacks is step one.
Let’s break down the most common and dangerous types of cyberattacks in 2025, share recent examples, and explore emerging trends you should keep on your radar.
1. Phishing Attacks
What is it?
Phishing is a form of social engineering where attackers trick users into revealing sensitive information like login credentials, credit card numbers, or personal data.
How many types are there?
- Email Phishing: This is a classic scam that has existed since the beginning of time. Fake emails that look legit but are designed to trick you into clicking shady links or sharing personal info. They often impersonate trusted brands like banks or retailers. You’ll usually spot them by their urgency (“Your account is locked!”) or suspicious grammar. “If something feels off, don’t click. Check instead!”
- Spear Phishing: Unlike broad email phishing, this one’s personal. It’s tailored just for you, using your name, company, or recent activity to build trust.
- The goal? Trick you into doing something risky, like sending credentials or money. Always double-check unexpected requests, even if they “sound” legit.
- Whaling (CEO Fraud): This is phishing aimed at the big fish; executives, CEOs, or finance heads. Attackers spoof their identity to trick employees into wiring money or sharing sensitive data. It often looks like a high-priority email from the boss. Slow down, verify, and trust your gut.
- Smishing (SMS Phishing): Phishing via text message: short, urgent, and easy to fall for on the go. You might get a fake delivery update or bank alert with a malicious link. These messages prey on quick reactions. Don’t tap that link: go to the official app or site instead.
- Vishing (Voice Phishing): Here, scammers call you pretending to be from the bank, IT support, or official government agencies. They create pressure, talk in urgent and strict tones, and ask for info or access. With AI voice cloning, these calls sound eerily real. So, hang up and call back using a number you trust.
- Clone Phishing: A real email you once received is copied and resent, but the twist here is that a malicious link is swapped in. It looks identical to the original, making it hard to detect. The sender might even appear familiar, making the whole ordeal very dangerous.
- Pharming: Instead of tricking you, pharming tricks your browser. It redirects you to a fake version of a real website, even if you typed the correct URL. These attacks often start with DNS poisoning. To stay safe, use secure DNS services and keep your software updated.
- Angler Phishing (Social Media Phishing): Fake accounts on platforms like Twitter or LinkedIn posing as customer support. They reply to real complaints or queries, luring victims into DMs with malicious links. The scam feels helpful, but it’s not. Always verify accounts before engaging or clicking anything.
- Search Engine Phishing: Scammers create fake websites and get them ranked in search results, often with ads. You Google something innocent like “tech support” or “PDF converter,” and you’re on a phishing site. The site may look real, but it is built to steal data. Stick to well-known sources and avoid clicking the top ad blindly.
- Evil Twin Phishing (Wi-Fi Phishing): A hacker sets up a rogue Wi-Fi network with a name similar to a real one (“Free Airport Wi-Fi”). Once connected, they can snoop on your activity or inject fake login pages. It’s sneaky and super common in public places.
2. Ransomware Attacks:
What is it?
A ransomware attack is a type of malware-based cyberattack in which threat actors encrypt a victim’s data and demand a ransom payment, typically in cryptocurrency, to restore access.
Ransomware can typically infiltrate your systems via phishing emails, RDP brute-force attacks, drive-by downloads, software vulnerabilities, and malicious ads (malvertising).
Double extortion: A key part of ransomware attacks is that attackers not only lock files but also threaten to leak them if the ransom isn’t paid. This is called double extortion.
How many types are there?
- Crypto Ransomware: These typically encrypt files and demand payment for the decryption key, usually in the form of cryptocurrency. Some of the biggest ransomware attacks have asked for payments through crypto due to its anonymity. Example: LockBit, Conti, Revil.
- Locker Ransomware: Locks users out of their entire system but doesn’t encrypt files. Example: WinLocker
- Scareware: Fake software alerts claiming malware infection, demanding payment for a “fix.” Example: Rogue antivirus tools
- Doxware (or Leakware): Threatens to publish stolen data if ransom isn’t paid.Example: Maze, Babuk
- Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS): Subscription-based ransomware offered by developers to affiliates who execute the attacks. Example: DarkSide, ALPHV, LockBit
3. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks
What is it?
MitM attacks occur when an attacker secretly intercepts and possibly alters communications between two parties.
Common in:
- Unsecured Wi-Fi networks
- Compromised routers
- DNS spoofing
Example:
In early 2025, researchers found a wave of attacks exploiting public airport Wi-Fi to intercept banking sessions.
Prevention tip:
Use encrypted communication (HTTPS, VPNs), and avoid sensitive activity on open networks.
4. AI-Powered Attacks: Smarter and Harder to Spot
What it is:
Attackers now leverage machine learning to automate recon, craft more convincing lures, or evade detection.
Example:
Security firms reported AI-powered bots probing enterprise networks for misconfigured APIs and exposed data in real-time.
Trend to watch:
Expect more adaptive malware that can change behavior on the fly to bypass endpoint defenses.
5. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks
What it is:
A DDoS attack floods a system or network with traffic, making it unusable.
Tactics used:
- Botnets
- Amplification attacks
- Layer 7 (application layer) targeting
Example:
A massive DDoS attack took down a major content delivery network in Europe in January 2025, disrupting websites and streaming services for hours.
Trend to watch:
IoT devices are increasingly being hijacked to power larger, more sustained DDoS attacks.
6. Supply Chain Attacks: The Trojan Horse of Today
What it is:
Rather than attacking a company directly, cybercriminals target third-party vendors or software providers to breach the final target.
Example:
The 2023 MOVEit Transfer exploit affected hundreds of organizations, including banks and government agencies, through a single software vulnerability.
Trend to watch:
Attackers are now prioritizing open-source libraries and third-party APIs. Expect more software supply chain breaches in 2025.
7. Zero-Day Exploits: Unknown and Unpatched
What it is:
Zero-day exploits target vulnerabilities that are unknown to the software vendor, meaning there’s no patch yet.
Example:
In February 2025, a zero-day in a widely used cloud storage provider was actively exploited before any mitigation steps were available.
Prevention tip:
While zero-days are hard to stop, a strong vulnerability management program can help mitigate the risk by ensuring all other known vulnerabilities are patched quickly.
8. Malware & Spyware: Old but Still Dangerous
What it is:
Malicious software designed to infiltrate systems, steal data, or cause damage.
Types include:
- Trojans
- Keyloggers
- Rootkits
- Wipers
Example:
In 2024, a spyware campaign targeted journalists and human rights activists using fake browser extensions.
Trend to watch:
Modern malware often includes fileless techniques, living off the land (LOTL) to blend in with legitimate processes.
9. Credential Stuffing: The Fallout of Data Breaches
What it is:
Using stolen username-password combos (from past breaches) to gain unauthorized access to accounts.
Example:
Credential stuffing attacks against streaming services and financial apps surged in late 2024, exploiting reused passwords.
Prevention tip:
Use MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) and password managers to prevent reuse and protect logins.
10. Insider Threats: The Human Factor
What it is:
Insiders, either malicious or negligent, can cause serious harm by leaking data, misconfiguring systems, or sabotaging operations.
Example:
In 2024, a disgruntled contractor deleted backups and sabotaged services at a fintech firm, causing weeks of downtime.
Trend to watch:
As more orgs adopt hybrid work, detecting insider threats will become harder without robust behavior analytics and access controls.
What Should You Do Now? A Checklist on Good Cyberhygiene
- Implement regular employee training on phishing & social engineering
- Use MFA across all accounts
- Patch vulnerabilities promptly and continuously
- Monitor network traffic for anomalies
- Vet and secure third-party vendors
- Segment networks to limit the blast radius
- Back up data frequently and test recovery plans
Final Thoughts: The Cyberattack Landscape Is Only Getting More Complex
Cyberattacks in 2025 are more targeted, automated, and relentless. Defenders need to understand the threat landscape deeply, not just react to incidents, but proactively harden systems, patch fast, and train smarter.
Understanding the types of cyberattacks is your first step toward better cybersecurity resilience.