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
Joshua A. KrollIf 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
Robert W. Lucky
cyberattacker
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
Eileen Dignen
Examples of cyberattack in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
No sooner has Google published a critical threat advisory warning users of the most prolific campaigns targeting their users, than a new and highly dangerous cyberattack has emerged, creating new Android contacts to deceive victims into thinking everything is safe and secure.
—Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
The lingerie company Victoria’s Secret has paused online orders while dealing with an apparent cyberattack.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 29 May 2025
In case of a cyberattack, the local health authorities print and file critical patient data once a week.
—Emma Burrows, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
In March 2022, U.S. freight forwarder Expeditors International was hit by a cyberattack, forcing the company to temporarily halt operations for eight days.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cyberattack
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Davey Winder, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
The lingerie company Victoria’s Secret has paused online orders while dealing with an apparent cyberattack.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 29 May 2025
In case of a cyberattack, the local health authorities print and file critical patient data once a week.
—Emma Burrows, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2025
In March 2022, U.S. freight forwarder Expeditors International was hit by a cyberattack, forcing the company to temporarily halt operations for eight days.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 28 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cyberattack
Cite this Entry
“Cyberattack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cyberattack. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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