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

Network edge devices like routers and VPN appliances are the entry point of choice for 30% of the cyberattacks on small and medium-sized businesses. —Srinivas Shekar, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025

Columbia University recently confirmed a major cyberattack that compromised personal, financial and health-related information tied to students, applicants and employees. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025

The alliance grew from 12 founding members to 32, helped end the Cold War, supported democratic transitions in Central and Eastern Europe, and adapted to new threats from terrorism to cyberattacks to great-power rivalry. —Kay Bailey Hutchison, Time, 1 Sep. 2025

Hybrid warfare refers to a range of activities stopping short of open fighting, like cyberattacks, information campaigns or the targeting of vulnerable infrastructure. —Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025

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