Most common types of cyber-attacks in 2025

While we often hear about large-scale nation-state campaigns, the reality is usually closer to home. Cybersecurity threats continue growing in frequency and complexity.

In 2025, core attack vectors like phishing and ransomware attacks remained prevalent, but they evolved. Spear phishing became laser-focused, and ransomware now often involves double extortion strategies.

Newer dangers are also rising. Zero-day attacks are gaining ground, with ENISA reporting vulnerability exploitation at 21.3% of initial access vectors. We also witnessed the active exploitation of widely used platforms like SharePoint.

You must stay proactive to defend against these types of cyber-attacks. The rise of artificial intelligence has introduced advanced defenses, but it has also created new vulnerabilities. Let’s break down exactly what you are up against.

Some cyber-attacks are financially motivated. They may target individuals, businesses, or financial institutions to steal sensitive information, resulting in data breaches. Data like credit card details, login credentials, or personal information can be sold on the black market or used for fraud.

Other attacks seek strategic advantages. Supply chain attacks, for example, target you indirectly by compromising your vendors. This leads to widespread damage that ripples through connected organizations.

Cyber-attacks take wildly different forms. They range from silent spyware installation to loud, disruptive Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks. If you rely on cloud tools, you need strong measures to reduce these risks.

Phishing

You receive an email from a "trusting" colleague. You click the link. Suddenly, your network is compromised.

Phishing relies on social engineering attacks rather than technical brute force. Attackers impersonate trusted entities to deceive you into sharing sensitive information. These emails look genuine, but the links lead to malicious sites or initiate downloads.

A phishing attack serves as a gateway. Cybercriminals use it to steal credentials, plant malware or access classified docs. It remains one of the most common attack methods targeting individual users and SMBs alike.

Ransomware

Ransomware locks your files and demands payment to restore access. This type of cyber-attack holds your business hostage.

This threat often leads to double trouble: encryption and theft. Attackers frequently steal sensitive information before locking the files and threaten to leak it if you don't pay. This made ransomware attacks one of the most critical threats in 2025.

Threat actors leverage cryptocurrencies for anonymity and exploit our reliance on cloud computing. A single incident can knock your business offline for days.

High data value encourages cybercriminals to demand hefty ransoms. Many businesses feel paying is cheaper than rebuilding. This profitability keeps ransomware at the top of the threat list.

Spyware

Spyware tracks data flowing through your assets. This type of cyber-attacks sends stolen information to attacker-controlled servers outside your organization.

Bad actors use this malicious software to monitor activity and extract personal data. It can record keystrokes, browsing habits, and confidential business plans without you knowing.

Infections happen easily. Users might visit infected websites, use compromised USB drives, or get hacked by opening an email. Even some legitimate advertisers push the boundaries of spyware to deliver targeted ads.

Viruses

Viruses are malicious programs that can copy themselves and infect systems. Their effects can range from light disruption to complete system failure. Some viruses remain dormant for long periods, while others are set to work immediately. Worms are a type of virus that replicate over networks and often spread without user interaction.

Viruses work by attaching to an executable host file, causing their viral code to run when a file is opened. It means that viruses generally spread through email attachments and file-sharing programs. Even an attached PDF can have a virus. You must scan email attachments before they wreck your perimeter.

Malware

Malware stands for “malicious software.” It creates a broad umbrella for code designed to infiltrate or damage systems.

Its goal is almost always to leak confidential data, cause data breaches, or compromise security. The specific actions depend on the variant. Viruses replicate; Trojans disguise themselves as helpful tools to trick you.

Spyware collects info silently, while ransomware makes a loud scene. Understanding these distinctions helps you deploy the right defenses. You need antivirus software, real-time monitoring, and strict access controls to guard against these pests.

Man-in-the-Middle attacks

A Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attack happens when an attacker positions themselves between a user and a system to intercept and potentially alter data traveling between them. This type of cyber-attacks often exploits social engineering to gain access. This can lead to significant data breaches as the attacker positions themselves between the sender and the recipient, becoming a "middleman" in the process.

MitM attacks are different from phishing attacks because the source is entirely genuine. It's just that it's been altered to serve the cybercriminal's goals.

An obvious example would be attacking an organization's financial department and changing the bank account details. As neither party notices anything unusual, this cyber-attack type is tough to detect and is usually discovered too late.

SQL injection

Your website’s search bar can turn into a backdoor for threat actors. An SQL injection attack exploits vulnerable input fields in your web applications, allowing criminals to manipulate your database directly.

Many applications build database queries by combining user input with code. This creates a dangerous window of opportunity. If your application constructs these queries dynamically, a hacker can trick it.

The attacker identifies a vulnerability in your login form, search box, or any other open field. Instead of a name or a search term, they submit crafted SQL code. If your application accepts this input without validation, the database engine executes it. The system interprets the injected query as legitimate instructions.

SQL injection allows cybercriminals to bypass authentication or retrieve sensitive data you thought was secure. They can modify or delete database records, or even execute arbitrary commands on your underlying system. You need strong input validation to stop these cyber threats at the door.

DDoS attacks

A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is a malicious attempt to disrupt your network or website by overwhelming it with a flood of illegitimate traffic.

In a DDoS attack, criminals use armies of compromised devices—known as botnets—to generate a massive volume of requests. This flood depletes your server's resources. Your service becomes unavailable to legitimate users.

These attacks can launch from anywhere on the globe. Attackers often use tactics like IP spoofing to hide their location or use multiple vectors simultaneously.

This complexity makes it incredibly challenging to identify and block malicious traffic. While a standard denial-of-service attack might come from a single source, the distributed nature of DDoS makes it one of the most resilient attack methods to defend against.

Zero-day exploits

Zero-day exploits act as invisible traps. This type of cyber-attacks targets unknown security vulnerabilities in your software, operating systems, or applications.

The term "zero-day" refers to the time developers have to fix the issue: zero days. The attackers found it before the builders did. Because there are no official patches available, you are exposed the moment the vulnerability is discovered.

These exploits are highly sought after by both cybercriminals and security researchers. They provide a significant, unfair advantage to the attacker.

Zero-day exploits are dangerous because standard defenses often miss them. Until the vendor releases a patch, there are no specific countermeasures, leaving your sensitive information at risk.

DNS tunneling

DNS tunneling is a technique used to sneak data past your guards. Attackers use it to bypass security measures and exfiltrate data from your network.

DNS is like the internet's phonebook. It is a trusted protocol that most firewalls allow to pass through unchecked. Attackers exploit this trust. They establish a covert communication channel between a compromised machine on your network and an external server they control.

They encode unauthorized data inside standard DNS queries and responses.

DNS tunneling poses a significant security risk because it hides in plain sight. It leverages a necessary protocol to bypass the security measures that typically monitor data traffic. Attackers hide within the noise of normal internet usage and can steal data without arousing suspicion.

XSS attacks

In cross-site scripting (XSS attacks), threat actors inject malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users.

These attacks typically target applications that allow user-generated content. Online forums, comment sections, or input fields where text is displayed back to visitors are common targets.

The threat actor finds a vulnerable site and crafts a malicious payload, often written in JavaScript. Unaware of the danger, the website accepts and stores this script.

When real users interact with that page, the website serves the malicious payload to their browser. This leads to unauthorized code execution. Attackers can use this to steal cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive data directly from the victim's browser.

Common cyber-attacks on SMBs

Cybercriminals often target small businesses because they view them as "low-hanging fruit." You may have less secure networks than a global enterprise, but you hold enough sensitive information to be a lucrative target.

SMBs are also frequently used as stepping stones in larger supply chain attacks, allowing hackers to reach bigger partners through you.

• Phishing is the top cyber threat against SMBs. It requires minimal preparation. An attacker simply needs a convincing email and a spoofed domain to dodge your spam filters. Then, they wait for one employee to click the link.
• Malware involves all varieties of malicious software. There are countless ways an SMB breaks its perimeter. Malware ranges from ransomware attacks that encrypt your files to spyware that silently collects data.
• DDoS and other DoS attacks target you to cause chaos. They are disruptive and can shut down your business services completely. Cybercriminals might use this as digital vandalism or as a distraction while they launch another type of cyber-attack in the background.

Staying ahead of cyber threats with NordLayer

Advanced technologies like AI are now used to predict and mitigate phishing, ransomware, and malware attacks. Organizations should implement MFA, firewalls, and security awareness training to protect themselves against social engineering and other attack vectors.

NordLayer supports the ZTNA framework, and features like Web Protection help block access to malicious domains and risky content categories.

• Secure Remote Access: Safeguard remote workforces with encrypted connections. Ensure that employees can access critical resources securely from anywhere
• Cloud Firewall: Control and monitor incoming and outgoing traffic with advanced filtering. Block malicious activity before it reaches your network
• Web Protection: Automatically identify and block access to malicious websites, phishing links, or suspicious content. This feature helps reduce the risk of human error
• Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA): Adopt a “never trust, always verify” approach to restrict access based on identity and context. ZTNA features help minimize exposure to insider and outsider threats
• Centralized management: Easily manage users, devices, and permissions through an intuitive dashboard

While no single solution eliminates every threat, NordLayer offers a comprehensive suite of tools that strengthen defenses and enhance incident response. These features help businesses build resilience against cyber-attacks.

FAQ

How often do cyber-attacks occur?

Cyber-attacks happen continuously. The exact frequency depends on whether you count attempts, incidents, or confirmed breaches. For context, Verizon’s 2025 DBIR analyzed over 22,000 security incidents and 12,000 confirmed breaches in just one reporting period.

What is the most significant cybersecurity incident in 2025?

In July 2025, attackers actively exploited "ToolShell," a critical vulnerability in Microsoft SharePoint Server. It forced Microsoft to release urgent updates. This incident mattered because SharePoint sits deep inside enterprise networks, allowing attackers to gain total control.

What are the top 3 most common cyber-attacks in 2025?

ENISA reports phishing as the most common intrusion vector (60%), followed by vulnerability exploitation (21.3%). Ransomware remains a major threat and often drives high-impact incidents.