Top 10 Cyber Security Threats and Attacks- 2025 Update

Cybersecurity threats are becoming more and more dangerous each passing day. Knowing what you are dealing with helps you minimise the risk. Follow this blog to the end to know what the 10 biggest risks are to your security online.

1. Denial of service attack

A Denial of service attack confuses the user system by burdening it with an overload that reaches a point where the system can no longer identify legitimate service requests. Its main purpose is to drain resources of the system. Using multiple malware-infested systems, the attackers attack the user. As the victim site is unable to provide service to those who want to legitimately access it, it is called a denial of service

This attack is different from other types of cyber attacks that enable the hacker to either obtain access to a system or increase the access they currently have. With this type of attack, the benefits are direct for the hacker. The objective is simply to interrupt the effectiveness of the target’s service. Such attacks are often carried out by service competitors.

A DoS attack can also be used as misdirection to carry another type of attack. Dos attacks can be prevented using Firewalls.

2. Brute Force Attacks

In brute‑force attacks, you can analyze from the word “brute” that criminals try to force, i.e., try every possible credential available. Programmed bots with credential lists are used to run over the data, and once they guess correctly, they have access to your data. You can block brute‑force attacks using ‘ Implement account lockout policies’, which freezes the accounts after repeated failed attempts—no one will be able to log in, even using other devices. Use strong, random passwords, avoid common words or patterns; even a 10-character random password is so strong that it could take bots many years to crack it.

3. Web Attacks

Many in-web applications are vulnerable to web attacks. Cyber attackers plan web attacks by crafting malicious requests that trigger unintended behaviors (e.g., unauthorized fund transfers). You can prevent web attacks by regularly auditing and patching your applications with up-to-date features. Other methods that work are enforcing SameSite flags, adding anti‑CSRF tokens, creating strict whitelists for accepted data, and sanitizing user input

Web Attack example: In January 2025, a security researchers group named Winter Soldiers identified a parameter tampering flaw in a community forum using Single Sign-On (SSO). They manipulated the email parameter during forum signup and then hijacked accounts that already existed on the main website.

4. Internal Threats

Insider threats pose great risks as they understand your systems and also have privileged access to restricted information. Using the knowledge they have of your system, they can easily manipulate the security systems and destroy valuable assets. This can be prevented by limiting access to highly trusted individuals and using technology like multi-factor authentication.

5. Trojan Horses

The Trojan Horse was first used by the Greeks to conquer Troy. A similar concept is used by hackers to access your personal information, where they pretend to be legitimate software, tricking you into installing the malware. You can prevent it by being cautious and only using trusted sources to download software.

6. Ransomware

Ransomware is a very popular and dangerous cybersecurity threat regularly used by attackers. It can cause heavy financial loss and lead to data breaches that leak your private data to dangerous parties. Hackers target individuals, businesses, healthcare systems, government agencies, and more.

Ransomware example

Change Healthcare was attacked using ransomware, leaking sensitive data for 190 million people, which was the largest breach of U.S. medical data in history.
In early 2024, United States federal agencies arrested several key players in this attack, seized their systems, and released decryption keys.

A rise in data extortion without deploying ransomware was also noted. RansomHub is a group that steals data and threatens to release it, bypassing detection by security software.

How to defend against ransomware

Consider networks as digital fortresses. Use these layered protections:

• Perimeter, endpoint, network, and data security
• System hardening
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
• Managed security services

Even after implementing all the steps, attacks still happen. You can ensure minimum risk and loss if you use these methods.

7. Vulnerabilities

Criminals on the web are always on the lookout for vulnerabilities in your system. Once they find it, they exploit it to the maximum extent. This vulnerability could be very small or very big. It poses the risk of partial to complete data loss and loss of access to your systems.

Vulnerability example

From January 2024 alone, attackers have launched more than 80,000 attempts targeting edge devices with known vulnerabilities, which shows us the vulnerability of edge devices.

How to defend against vulnerabilities?

You can prioritize the patch management. Deploy software to identify unusual behavior.

• You can monitor the digital footprint
• Constantly identify and eliminate weaknesses
• Avoid any unnecessary services and
  Limit the access controls
• Regularly update your system configurations

8. Defense Evasion

Threat actors have multiple tools and methods to avoid cybersecurity defenses.

Defense evasion example

Cybercriminals frequently use “EDRKillers” to disable endpoint detection and response tools. EDR systems are used in spotting malicious behavior, making them vulnerable to the deployment of EDR killers.

How can you defend against defense evasion?

• You can enable tamper protection on all EDR deployments
• Constantly monitor tamper alerts and verify configuration integrity
• Block any unnecessary drivers
• You can use driver allowlists and constantly update them based on threat level

9. Drive-by Compromise

One popular way attackers use to lure users is SEO poisoning.

Drive-by compromise example

Attackers have used fake Google ads to spread the malware named DeerStealer through a counterfeit Google Authenticator app, showing the continued use of this method.

How to defend against drive-by compromise?

• Use legitimate ad blockers
• Use a repository of trusted installers
• Educate users on the method
• Use EDR tools

10. Phishing Attacks

Phishing in cybersecurity remains a top threat as it manipulates human trust by pretending to be someone else.

Example of this Attack

Threat actors use platforms like PayPal and pretend to be a trusted organization to steal users’ money. Microsoft reported a rise in AI-generated phishing email attacks, which significantly increase their effectiveness.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity attacks are a very big risk for individuals as well as businesses. Hackers are coming up with new and complicated ways to cause you loss. Even after educating and being well aware, such attacks can not be easily prevented. A strong cybersecurity system is needed to prevent such attacks. You can contact  Cyberics Team to learn more about such services.