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
Now an indictment of a group of Russian nationals and the takedown of their sprawling botnet offers the clearest example in years of how a single malware operation allegedly enabled hacking operations as varied as ransomware, wartime cyberattacks in Ukraine, and spying against foreign governments.
—Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 22 May 2025
The utility will need funds to prepare for that expansion, as well as to add ongoing safety improvements, prevent cyberattacks and move toward a cleaner energy supply, according to Eisenhauer.
—Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
The cyberattack, which occurred over Easter, wiped over £1 billion from M&S’ stock market value and sent shock waves across the industry, with hackers also targeting the Co-op and Harrods.
—Sawdah Bhaimiya,chloe Taylor,holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 21 May 2025
Lower energy demand makes the grid less vulnerable to disruptions—whether from cyberattacks, natural disasters, or supply shortages—while energy-efficient buildings are better equipped to maintain operations during emergencies.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for cyberattack
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Andy Greenberg, Wired News, 22 May 2025
The utility will need funds to prepare for that expansion, as well as to add ongoing safety improvements, prevent cyberattacks and move toward a cleaner energy supply, according to Eisenhauer.
—Caroline Petrow-Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2025
The cyberattack, which occurred over Easter, wiped over £1 billion from M&S’ stock market value and sent shock waves across the industry, with hackers also targeting the Co-op and Harrods.
—Sawdah Bhaimiya,chloe Taylor,holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 21 May 2025
Lower energy demand makes the grid less vulnerable to disruptions—whether from cyberattacks, natural disasters, or supply shortages—while energy-efficient buildings are better equipped to maintain operations during emergencies.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 20 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 28 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share