Home Blog The 36 Most Common Cyberattacks [2026] Last Updated: June 25, 2026 The 36 Most Common Cyberattacks [2026] By: Brenda Buckman Summarize with AI Summarize ChatGPT Claude Perplexity Google AI There are plenty of spooky, scary things lurking in the dark—and that includes the dark web. We’re here to shed light on those shadows. The most common cyberattacks plaguing the darkness are, unfortunately, becoming more regular, with an estimated 600 million attacks happening worldwide each day. According to our June 2025 survey of more than 500 US IT professionals, 54% of organizations experienced a malware attack in the past 12 months, and 44% experienced phishing or spearphishing. Financial gain is the suspected primary motivation behind most of these attacks, cited by 27% of respondents, followed by data theft at 23%. Yikes! The first step in reducing cyber risks is knowing what the monsters look like. The second step is understanding how you can protect your organization from external and internal cyber threats. Keep reading to learn about different types of cyberattacks, how threat actors are going about them, and what you can do to prevent future attacks. Table of contents What is a cyberattack? Types of cyberattacks Malware-based attacks Phishing and social engineering Network attacks Vulnerability exploitation attacks Other types of cybersecurity attacks How to protect against threat actors Avoid the most common cyberattacks with managed EDR FAQ What is a cyberattack? A cyberattack is defined as any malicious attempt to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems, networks, or devices. Basically, it's when someone tries to mess with your digital stuff, whether that's stealing your data, crashing your website, or holding your files hostage. Think of it like a digital break-in, but instead of smashing a window, they're exploiting software vulnerabilities or tricking people into giving up their passwords. These attacks can range from simple annoyances like adware to serious threats like ransomware that can completely stall operations for entire organizations. They come in all shapes and sizes, and threat actors are always developing new ways to cause trouble in the digital world. Looking to brush up on your cyber savvy? The cybersecurity glossary has your back. Types of cyberattacks There are many different types of cyberattacks, and techniques that threat actors use to carry out attacks. These are defined by how they gain access to the system, what they do once they’ve gained access, and what they’re after specifically. While this is not an exhaustive list, cyberattacks tend to fall under these four categories: Malware-based attacks: Think of malware as the digital equivalent of a nasty virus. Someone slips a sneaky program onto your device, and it starts causing trouble, whether it's stealing info, messing up files, or just generally being a pain. It's like having a digital gremlin running loose in your system. Phishing and social engineering: This is where the bad guys try to trick you into doing something they want. They might send a fake business email pretending to be your manager or try to get you to click a dodgy link. They play on your trust or curiosity to get what they want. It's like a con artist, but online. Network attacks: These attacks go after the connections between computers. Imagine someone jamming the signal on your Wi-Fi or flooding a website with so much traffic it crashes. They disrupt the flow of information, kind of like a digital traffic jam. Vulnerability exploitation attacks: Every software has potential weaknesses, or "vulnerabilities." These attacks occur when someone finds those weak spots and uses them to break in. It's like finding an unlocked back door to a building and going inside to cause problems. Malware-based attacks Malware, or malicious software, is when a software program is secretly installed onto your device. This can be done in a variety of ways, but is usually done without the user knowing to stay undetectable. Examples include: 1. Viruses Think of a virus as a digital disease that spreads through contact. Before users even know they’ve been infected, the malicious programs start to replicate and spread. They work by attaching themselves to legitimate files or programs. When that infected file is opened or run, the virus activates and starts spreading, potentially corrupting files, stealing data, or disrupting system operations. Threat actors distribute viruses in different ways, like: Embedding them in email attachments Disguising them as seemingly harmless software downloads Exploiting vulnerabilities in websites to inject malicious code The goal is to trick the user into opening the infected file, which then lets the virus take hold and do its dirty work. 2. Ransomware Ransomware is a type of malicious software that lets attackers hold your data hostage. The threat actor locks users out of their devices, encrypts files, and then asks for payment to restore things. Ransomware can come from phishing emails, malicious downloads, or by exploiting software vulnerabilities. Once the ransomware infects a system, it encrypts files rapidly, often displaying a message with instructions for payment, usually in cryptocurrency. Threat actors might also threaten to publicly release sensitive data if the ransom isn't paid. The goal is to maximize disruption and fear, increasing the likelihood of victims paying up. 3. Trojans Think of the trojan horse from Greek mythology—it looks like a gift, but it's hiding something dangerous inside. Once installed, a trojan can perform a variety of malicious actions, like: Stealing data Opening backdoors for other malware Controlling the infected computer remotely Like the original trojan horse, these malicious programs (the attack) are disguised as legitimate software (a giant, beautiful wooden horse). Unlike viruses, they don't self-replicate. Instead, they trick users into installing them by appearing harmless or even useful. The key is deception: they rely on users being unaware of the true nature of the software they're installing, like pirated software, fake updates, or seemingly legitimate applications downloaded from trusted sources. 4. Spyware Spyware is like having a digital stalker lurking in your devices, silently watching your every move. It can track your browsing history, capture keystrokes (including passwords and credit card numbers), monitor emails and messages, and even activate your webcam or microphone. The threat actor then gathers data they can do whatever they want with, like identity theft, financial fraud, or targeted advertising. Threat actors often exploit software vulnerabilities as their attack vector to install spyware without the user's knowledge. 5. Adware Also known as advertising-supported software , adware is a type of software that displays unwanted ads on a user's computer or mobile device. While not always inherently malicious, it can be incredibly annoying and sometimes carry security risks as a gateway for more serious malware. Think of it as those pop-up ads that won't go away or software that suddenly floods your browser with unwanted toolbars and search engines. It can significantly disrupt your browsing experience and slow down your device. Here are some ways threat actors may use adware: Bundle it with free software downloads, tricking users into installing it alongside the desired program. Spread it through malicious websites or browser extensions. More aggressive types of adware can collect your browsing data and display targeted ads or even redirect you to potentially dangerous websites. 6. Infostealers Like digital pickpockets, infostealers target your login credentials, financial information, personal files, and browsing history. Instead of disrupting your system, this type of malware focuses on quietly extracting valuable data. We found that infostealers were one of the top threats in our 2025 Cyber Threat Report . They’re often disguised as legitimate software or embedded in seemingly harmless files. Once installed, the infostealer silently collects data in the background, often logging keystrokes, capturing screenshots, and extracting saved passwords from browsers. 7. Bots While many bots are used for legitimate purposes, like search engine indexing or customer service chatbots, malicious bots are used by threat actors for nefarious activities, like automating spamming, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, or credential stuffing. Think of them as digital soldiers carrying out commands without human intervention. Threat actors create botnets, which are networks of infected computers or devices controlled by a single attacker, to amplify the impact of their attacks. They infect devices through malware, often distributed via phishing emails or software vulnerabilities. Once a device is infected, it becomes part of the botnet, and the attacker can remotely control it to carry out attacks. These botnets can grow to massive sizes, letting threat actors launch large-scale attacks that can overwhelm websites, steal data, or spread malware further. 8. Worms Computer worms are a type of malware that can self-replicate and spread across networks without needing user interaction. Unlike viruses, which attach themselves to existing files, worms are standalone programs that can propagate on their own. Worms can also carry payloads that perform other malicious actions, like stealing data, deleting files, or installing backdoors. They exploit vulnerabilities in operating systems or applications to spread from one device to another, often causing significant network congestion and disruption. Imagine a digital contagion that spreads rapidly through your network, infecting every vulnerable device it encounters. 9. Keyloggers Keyloggers are a type of spyware that records every keystroke a user makes on a computer or mobile device. Think of them as silent observers, captur