cyberattack

noun

cy·​ber·​at·​tack ˈsī-bər-ə-ˌtak 

plural cyberattacks

: an attempt to gain illegal access to a computer or computer system for the purpose of causing damage or harm

An undermine-first strategy allows the United States government to intrude into adversaries' systems, exploiting this covert access to gather intelligence and occasionally to deliver a destructive cyberattack.

—Joshua A. Kroll

If your data is valuable enough, there is almost nothing you can do to provide total security against an expert adversary. Simply put, the attacker may be smarter than anyone you have defending the network. Cyberattacks are not only impossible to block, they're often difficult to detect; you may not even know you're under attack in the first place.

—Robert W. Lucky

cyberattacker

ˈsī-bər-ə-ˌta-kər 

noun

plural cyberattackers

Cyberattackers constantly evolve their skills and will always find new ways to attack—it's not a question of "if," but of "when."

—Eileen Dignen

Examples of cyberattack in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The most dire real-life cyberattacks on hospitals involve ransomware, a class of malicious software that encrypts data and locks down computers and networks, demanding significant amounts of cash for the promise of relief. —Jeffrey Tully, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026

Leaders in the community of Foster City declared a state of emergency as a cyberattack continues to hold the city's network hostage. —Tim Fang, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026

Over the last year, Poland was the target of 270,000 cyberattacks, Deputy Minister of Digital Affairs Paweł Olszewski said on Tuesday. —ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026

Phishing, or a cyberattack, occurs when scammers impersonate legitimate organizations to trick recipients into clicking links, opening infected attachments, providing sensitive information and making financial payments. —Saleen Martin, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1996, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cyberattack

• ammoniac
• biofeedback
• counterattack
• demoniac
• elegiac
• noncardiac
• paranoiac
• aback
• anzac
• attack
• backpack
• backtrack