What is a Cyberattack? Complete Guide to Understanding Digital Threats
- Muiz As-Siddeeqi
- Nov 16
- 42 min read
Your inbox pings. An email from your bank asks you to verify your account. You click the link, enter your password, and within seconds, hackers halfway across the globe drain your savings. Or imagine this: a hospital's computers suddenly freeze. Patient records vanish. Life-saving equipment stops working. A ransom note appears demanding $2 million. Every 39 seconds, someone somewhere faces this nightmare. In 2024, cyberattacks struck organizations 1,876 times per quarter—a staggering 75% jump from the previous year (Check Point Research, October 2024). These aren't distant threats anymore. They're daily realities that cost the world $4.88 million per incident and disrupt lives, businesses, and entire nations.
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TL;DR
Cyberattacks are deliberate hostile actions targeting computers, networks, or digital systems to steal data, disrupt operations, or cause damage
Over 2,200 cyberattacks happen daily worldwide—one every 39 seconds (Keepnet, November 2024)
Common types include ransomware, phishing, DDoS attacks, malware, and man-in-the-middle attacks
Global cybercrime costs will reach $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, up from $7 trillion in 2022 (Cybersecurity Ventures, 2024)
68% of breaches involve human error, making employee training critical (Verizon, 2025)
Protection requires multi-layered defense: strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, regular updates, employee training, and backup systems
What is a Cyberattack?
A cyberattack is a deliberate, malicious attempt by individuals or organizations to breach the information systems of another entity, typically to steal data, disrupt operations, damage systems, or extort money. These attacks exploit vulnerabilities in computer networks, software, or human behavior through methods like malware, phishing, ransomware, or denial-of-service attacks. Cyberattacks can target anyone from individuals to multinational corporations and government agencies.
Table of Contents
Understanding Cyberattacks: Definition and Core Concepts
A cyberattack represents a deliberate exploitation of computer systems, networks, or technology-dependent enterprises. Unlike accidental system failures or natural disasters, cyberattacks involve intentional hostile actions carried out by threat actors—individuals, groups, or nation-states seeking unauthorized access to digital assets.
Core Components of a Cyberattack
Every cyberattack shares three fundamental elements:
Intent: Attackers have specific objectives, whether financial gain, data theft, espionage, disruption, or ideological expression. According to Verizon's 2023 Data Breach Investigations Report, 97% of threat actors were financially motivated (Verizon, 2023).
Method: Attackers employ various techniques to exploit weaknesses in systems, software, or human behavior. These range from sophisticated software exploits to simple social engineering tactics.
Impact: Successful attacks produce consequences including data breaches, financial losses, operational disruption, reputation damage, or physical harm to critical infrastructure.
The Anatomy of an Attack
Cyberattacks typically follow a lifecycle known as the "cyber kill chain," developed by Lockheed Martin. This framework includes seven stages:
Reconnaissance: Attackers research and identify targets
Weaponization: Creating or acquiring malicious tools
Delivery: Transmitting the weapon to the target environment
Exploitation: Triggering the vulnerability
Installation: Installing a backdoor or remote access
Command and Control: Establishing communication with compromised systems
Actions on Objectives: Executing the intended impact (data theft, encryption, destruction)
Understanding this progression helps organizations implement defenses at multiple stages, increasing the likelihood of detecting and stopping attacks before significant damage occurs.
The History of Cyberattacks: From the Morris Worm to Modern Threats
The evolution of cyberattacks mirrors the growth of digital technology itself. What began as academic experiments has transformed into a multi-trillion-dollar criminal industry and tool of geopolitical conflict.
1988: The Morris Worm—The First Major Cyberattack
On November 2, 1988, Robert Tappan Morris, a 23-year-old Cornell University graduate student, released what would become the first major cyberattack in history. The Morris Worm was designed to assess the size of the early Internet by crawling the web and counting connected computers.
The worm exploited three primary vulnerabilities in BSD UNIX systems:
A backdoor in the sendmail email program
A buffer overflow bug in the "finger" protocol
Weak password guessing using dictionary attacks
Morris programmed the worm to check if computers were already infected, but fearing administrators might program false positives, he added a fatal flaw: after seven "no" responses, the worm would install anyway. This caused computers to become multiply infected, grinding systems to a halt (FBI, October 2022).
Within 24 hours, the worm infected approximately 6,000 of the 60,000 computers then connected to the Internet—roughly 10% of the entire network (Tom's Hardware, November 2024). Prestigious institutions including Harvard, Princeton, Stanford, Johns Hopkins, NASA, and the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory were affected. Email delays lasted for days, and some organizations remained disconnected from the Internet for up to a week.
The damage was estimated between $100,000 and $10 million ($201,000 to $20 million in 2024 dollars). Morris became the first person convicted under the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986, receiving a $10,050 fine, three years probation, and 400 hours of community service (Cornell Alumni, November 2023).
The Legacy of the Morris Worm
This incident fundamentally changed cybersecurity. It led to:
The establishment of CERT (Computer Emergency Response Team) at Carnegie Mellon University
Increased awareness of network vulnerabilities
Development of computer intrusion detection software
The realization that interconnected systems create cascading risks
Ironically, Robert Morris went on to become a professor at MIT and co-founded Viaweb, an e-commerce platform acquired by Yahoo for nearly $50 million in the 1990s (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, 2024).
Evolution Through the Decades
1990s: Viruses spread primarily through floppy disks and early Internet connections. The focus shifted from academic curiosity to malicious intent.
2000: The ILOVEYOU virus spread through email attachments, infecting millions of computers worldwide and causing an estimated $10 billion in damages.
2003: The SQL Slammer Worm demonstrated unprecedented speed, infecting 75,000 computers in just 10 minutes by exploiting a Microsoft SQL Server vulnerability.
2010: Stuxnet marked a watershed moment—the first known cyberweapon deployed by nation-states (widely attributed to the U.S. and Israel) specifically designed to damage Iran's nuclear centrifuges, causing physical destruction through digital means.
2017: The NotPetya attack, attributed to Russian military hackers, began targeting Ukraine but rapidly spread globally, causing more than $10 billion in damages to multinational corporations including Maersk, Merck, and FedEx. It remains the most destructive cyberattack in history (Secureframe, July 2024).
2020s: Cyberattacks have become industrialized. Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) platforms allow criminals with minimal technical skills to launch sophisticated attacks. AI and machine learning now power both offensive and defensive capabilities.
How Cyberattacks Work: Attack Vectors and Methods
Understanding how cyberattacks operate requires examining the various pathways attackers use to compromise systems. These entry points are called "attack vectors."
Primary Attack Vectors
Email and Phishing
Email remains the most common initial attack vector. According to Norton Antivirus (2024), over 75% of targeted cyberattacks start with an email. Phishing attacks trick recipients into clicking malicious links, downloading infected attachments, or revealing sensitive information.
Phishing accounted for 30% of all global breaches in 2024 and initiated 80-95% of all human-associated breaches (IBM and Comcast Business, 2024). The numbers are staggering: 989,123 phishing scams were recorded in Q4 2024 alone—averaging 330,000 attacks per month (APWG, 2024).
Unpatched Vulnerabilities
Software vulnerabilities represent a critical attack vector. In 2024, a record-breaking 40,009 Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) were published, marking a 39% increase from 2023 (Edgescan, 2024). The 2025 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report found that vulnerability exploitation was the initial access method in 20% of breaches (Verizon, 2025).
Attackers particularly target older, unpatched vulnerabilities. According to cybersecurity statistics, 56% of older vulnerabilities continue to be actively exploited (Indusface, 2024). More alarmingly, over 90% of successful breaches utilize known vulnerabilities that remain unpatched (JumpCloud, 2024).
Weak Credentials and Passwords
Password-related breaches account for roughly 80% of all data breaches (TechRadar, 2024). Credential stuffing—using automated scripts with lists of stolen usernames and passwords—allows attackers to access multiple accounts across different services. According to the 2025 Global Cybersecurity Outlook Report, 25% of breaches in 2024 were linked to stolen credentials (Indusface, 2024).
Remote Access and Third-Party Services
Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) and other remote access tools provide convenient entry points for attackers who have stolen or guessed login credentials. Supply chain attacks, where hackers target vendors or third-party service providers, have increased significantly. Up to 40% of cyber threats now occur indirectly through supply chains (AAG IT, 2024).
Social Engineering: Exploiting Human Psychology
Social engineering attacks manipulate human behavior rather than exploiting technical vulnerabilities. According to Huntress (2024), 98% of cyberattacks in 2024 relied on social engineering tactics such as phishing or pretexting. These attacks work because they exploit fundamental human tendencies:
Trust in authority figures
Fear of consequences
Desire to be helpful
Curiosity
Urgency and time pressure
A joint study by Stanford University and Tessian found that approximately 88% of cybersecurity incidents result from employee mistakes (Forenova, November 2024).
The Kill Chain in Action
Consider how a typical ransomware attack unfolds:
Reconnaissance: Attackers scan for vulnerable systems and gather employee email addresses through LinkedIn and company websites
Weaponization: They craft a convincing phishing email mimicking a trusted vendor or internal communication
Delivery: The email contains a malicious attachment disguised as an invoice or report
Exploitation: When opened, the attachment exploits a vulnerability in Microsoft Office or PDF reader
Installation: Ransomware installs silently, often establishing persistence to survive system reboots
Command and Control: The malware contacts a remote server controlled by attackers
Actions on Objectives: Files are encrypted, and a ransom demand appears, sometimes after days or weeks of lateral movement to maximize impact
This entire process can occur in hours, though sophisticated attackers may remain undetected for months, conducting reconnaissance and positioning themselves for maximum damage.
Types of Cyberattacks: Complete Classification
Cyberattacks come in numerous forms, each with distinct characteristics, objectives, and impacts. Understanding these types is essential for effective defense.
1. Malware Attacks
Malware (malicious software) serves as an umbrella term for any software designed to damage, disrupt, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems. Currently, more than 1.2 billion malware programs exist (Embroker, April 2025). In 2020 alone, malware attacks increased by 358% compared to 2019 (AAG IT, 2024).
Key Types of Malware:
Viruses: Attach to legitimate files and require user action to spread
Worms: Self-replicate and spread autonomously across networks
Trojans: Disguise themselves as legitimate software to trick users into installation
Spyware: Monitors user activity and collects sensitive information without knowledge or consent
Adware: Displays unwanted advertisements and may track browsing behavior
2. Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware represents one of the most devastating cyber threats. This malware type encrypts victims' data and demands payment (typically in cryptocurrency) for the decryption key.
Ransomware statistics paint an alarming picture:
Ransomware accounted for 59% of all cyberattacks in 2024 (Sophos, 2024)
The average ransomware payment reached $2 million in 2024, with 94% of the initial ransom demand being paid (Sophos, 2024)
81% of organizations surveyed faced ransomware attacks in 2023, and 48% paid the ransom (SpyCloud, 2023)
Over 60% of attacks on government agencies involve ransomware (JumpCloud, 2024)
Ransomware cost the world more than $20 billion in 2021, expected to grow to $261 billion by 2031 (Netwrix, May 2024)
Evolution of Ransomware:
Single Extortion: Traditional ransomware simply encrypted files and demanded payment for decryption.
Double Extortion: Modern ransomware adds data theft. Attackers threaten to publicly release stolen data if payment isn't made, even if victims have backups.
Triple Extortion: Some ransomware groups now add a third layer—DDoS attacks against the victim or demanding ransom from the victim's customers and partners (Palo Alto Networks, 2024).
Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS): This business model allows criminals with minimal technical skills to launch attacks using sophisticated ransomware platforms. LockBit 3.0, Clop, ALPHV/BlackCat, and Royal ransomware groups represented 57% of detected cyberattacks in 2023 (Cobalt, April 2024).
3. Phishing and Spear Phishing Attacks
Phishing remains the most prevalent email attack method, accounting for 39.6% of all email threats (Hornetsecurity, 2024). These attacks use social engineering to trick victims into revealing sensitive information or downloading malware.
Types of Phishing:
Email Phishing: Mass emails impersonating trusted organizations
Spear Phishing: Highly targeted attacks customized for specific individuals or organizations, used in 62% of phishing attacks (IBM Security X-Force, 2023)
Whaling: Targets high-level executives
Smishing: Phishing via SMS text messages
Vishing: Voice phishing conducted through phone calls
Phishing scams initiate 80-95% of all human-associated breaches and account for 30% of all global breaches (IBM and Comcast Business, 2024). The cost is equally staggering: phishing-related breaches cost $4.88 million on average in 2024 (IBM, 2024).
4. Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Attacks
DDoS attacks flood target systems with traffic from multiple sources, overwhelming resources and making services unavailable to legitimate users.
Recent statistics show alarming growth:
DDoS attacks increased by 41% in 2024 (Indusface, 2024)
More than 8 million DDoS incidents occurred in the first two quarters of 2024, marking a 13% increase (Embroker, April 2025)
The most powerful DDoS attacks reached speeds of almost 2 Tbps (terabits per second) in 2024 (JumpCloud, 2024)
Common DDoS Types:
Volumetric Attacks: Flood networks with massive traffic volumes
Protocol Attacks: Exploit weaknesses in network protocols (e.g., SYN floods)
Application Layer Attacks: Target specific web applications or services
Computer software, IT service providers, gaming/gambling, casinos, and media companies were the top five industries targeted by DDoS attacks in 2024 (JumpCloud, 2024).
5. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks
MitM attacks occur when hackers intercept data exchanged between two parties without their knowledge. Attackers position themselves between the victim and a legitimate service, allowing them to eavesdrop, steal data, or inject malicious content.
MitM attacks accounted for 19% of successful cyberattacks in 2024 (JumpCloud, 2024). These attacks increased by 35% since 2021 and are increasingly targeting Internet of Things (IoT) environments and smart devices (JumpCloud, 2024).
Common MitM Techniques:
Session Hijacking: Stealing session tokens to impersonate users
SSL Stripping: Downgrading encrypted HTTPS connections to unencrypted HTTP
DNS Spoofing: Redirecting traffic to malicious websites
Wi-Fi Eavesdropping: Intercepting data on unsecured public networks
6. SQL Injection Attacks
SQL injection exploits vulnerabilities in web applications that use SQL databases. Attackers insert malicious SQL code into input fields, allowing them to view, modify, or delete database contents.
While not as prominent in recent headlines, SQL injection remains a persistent threat, particularly for organizations with older web applications or insufficient input validation.
7. Zero-Day Exploits
Zero-day attacks target previously unknown vulnerabilities before software vendors can develop and release patches. These are particularly dangerous because no defense exists at the time of attack.
In 2024, 0.91% of all CVEs (204 out of 22,254) were weaponized, representing a 10% year-over-year increase (SC Magazine, 2024). The Ivanti Connect Secure vulnerabilities exploited in early 2024 (CVE-2023-46805 and CVE-2024-21887) demonstrated the rapid and devastating impact of zero-day exploits when multiple threat actors began mass exploitation (CM Alliance, 2024).
8. Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)
APTs represent sophisticated, long-term targeted attacks typically conducted by nation-states or well-funded criminal organizations. Unlike opportunistic attacks, APTs involve extensive reconnaissance, custom malware, and sustained access to networks.
In 2024, hacktivists were estimated to be responsible for up to 10% of APT attacks, compared to only about 2% historically—an increase connected to rising geopolitical conflicts (JumpCloud, 2024). It's estimated that 60-70% of APT attacks focus on espionage (JumpCloud, 2024).
9. Insider Threats
Insider threats come from within organizations—employees, contractors, or partners who abuse their authorized access. These can be malicious or accidental.
Statistics reveal the prevalence of this threat:
83% of businesses reported experiencing at least one insider attack in 2024 (AAG IT, 2024)
Internal actors were responsible for 37.45% of detected incidents (Orange Cyberdefense, 2023)
90% of all cyber incidents result from human error or behavior, such as using weak passwords or falling for phishing attacks (SentinelOne, 2024)
10. Supply Chain Attacks
Supply chain attacks target less-secure elements in an organization's supply chain to access the primary target. The 2024 Snowflake breach exemplifies this approach, where attackers compromised a third-party vendor to access over 100 major corporations (CM Alliance, 2024).
11. IoT-Based Attacks
The proliferation of Internet of Things devices creates new attack vectors. IoT devices often have weak security, making them attractive targets for creating botnets used in DDoS attacks or gaining access to networks.
The Gorilla DDoS Botnet, for example, was responsible for over 300,000 cyberattacks by leveraging compromised IoT devices (Indusface, 2024).
12. Cryptojacking
Cryptojacking involves secretly installing cryptocurrency mining software on victims' devices, using their computing resources and electricity to mine cryptocurrency for attackers. While less visible than other attacks, cryptojacking can significantly impact system performance and energy costs.
Real-World Case Studies: Major Cyberattacks of 2023-2024
Examining actual cyberattacks reveals how theoretical threats manifest in reality and the devastating consequences they produce.
Case Study 1: Change Healthcare Ransomware Attack (February 2024)
Background: Change Healthcare, a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group and one of the largest processors of U.S. medical claims, suffered a catastrophic ransomware attack in February 2024.
Attack Method: The BlackCat (ALPHV) ransomware group infiltrated Change Healthcare's systems, exfiltrated sensitive data, and deployed ransomware that crippled operations across the healthcare sector.
Impact:
Nationwide disruptions in healthcare services
Electronic payments and medical claims processing halted
Patients forced to pay out-of-pocket for medications and services
Estimated cost to UnitedHealth Group: $2.87 billion in 2024
Millions of Americans' health data compromised
Why It Matters: This attack demonstrated how a single point of failure in healthcare infrastructure can cascade into a national crisis. The incident affected not just one company but the entire U.S. healthcare ecosystem (CM Alliance, 2024).
Lessons Learned:
Critical infrastructure requires redundant systems and isolation
Incident response plans must account for extended outages
Third-party dependencies create systemic risks
Case Study 2: Snowflake Data Breach (May 2024)
Background: Snowflake, a major cloud data platform, experienced a significant breach affecting over 100 customers, including AT&T, Ticketmaster, and Santander Bank.
Attack Method: Hackers associated with the Scattered Spider group exploited compromised credentials from a Snowflake employee account. The breach highlighted critical security lapses, particularly the absence of multi-factor authentication (MFA) and inadequate credential management.
Impact:
Billions of AT&T call records stolen
Personal information from Ticketmaster and Santander Bank customers exfiltrated
Ransom demands ranging from $300,000 to $5 million
Substantial financial losses and reputation damage for affected companies
Key Statistics:
Over 100 major corporations affected
Data from hundreds of millions of customers compromised
Attack exploited a single compromised employee credential
Lessons Learned:
MFA is not optional—it's essential
Cloud security requires shared responsibility between providers and customers
Credential theft remains a primary attack vector (CM Alliance, 2024)
Case Study 3: Salt Typhoon Telecommunications Espionage Campaign (2024)
Background: In what Senator Mark Warner called "the worst telecom hack in our nation's history," Chinese state-sponsored hackers (Salt Typhoon) infiltrated major U.S. telecommunications companies including AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, and Lumen Technologies.
Attack Method: The campaign employed sophisticated techniques including the GhostSpider backdoor with a "heartbeat" command for persistent access. Attackers used a combination of custom malware and living-off-the-land (LOTL) techniques, leveraging legitimate system tools to avoid detection.
Impact:
Access to call and text metadata
Geolocation information compromised
In some cases, actual audio recordings of phone conversations stolen
High-profile individuals including political figures affected
Ongoing national security implications
Duration: The espionage campaign persisted for months or years before detection in late 2024.
Lessons Learned:
Nation-state attackers employ extremely sophisticated techniques
Telecommunications infrastructure requires enhanced security
Detection of advanced threats requires continuous monitoring
Living-off-the-land techniques complicate threat detection (CM Alliance and CSIS, 2024)
Case Study 4: National Public Data Breach (April 2024)
Background: National Public Data, a background check company, suffered one of the largest data breaches in history, exposing information belonging to nearly 2.9 billion individuals.
Attack Method: The cybercriminal group USDoD exploited vulnerabilities in centralized systems without sufficient safeguards, creating a single point of failure. The attackers gained unauthorized access in late 2023 and remained undetected for months.
Impact:
Social Security numbers, phone numbers, and addresses exposed
Nearly 2.9 billion records compromised
Data listed on the dark web for $3.5 million
Millions vulnerable to identity theft and fraud
Lawsuits and regulatory scrutiny
Why It's Unprecedented: This breach rivals the scale of the largest data breaches in history, affecting a substantial portion of the U.S. population.
Lessons Learned:
Centralized databases create catastrophic risk
Detection time matters—months of undetected access amplified damage
Companies handling sensitive data require enhanced security measures (Picus Security, January 2025)
Case Study 5: MOVEit Mass Exploitation (2023)
Background: MOVEit, a Managed File Transfer application used by thousands of organizations and government agencies, was hit with one of the largest breaches of 2023.
Attack Method: The Clop malware gang exploited a zero-day security flaw and deployed ransomware, leaking confidential data of 77 million individuals and over 2,600 companies globally.
Impact:
78% of breached organizations were in the U.S.
Victims included the U.S. Department of Energy, Johns Hopkins, University System of Georgia, and Louisiana Office of Motor Vehicles
Anyone with a state-issued driver's license or ID card in Louisiana potentially affected
Total global damages estimated at up to $12 billion
Lessons Learned:
Third-party software vulnerabilities create widespread risk
Zero-day exploits require rapid response
Supply chain attacks can affect thousands of organizations simultaneously (Bluefin, July 2024)
Case Study 6: Ivanti VPN Zero-Day Mass Exploits (January 2024)
Background: Security researchers observed mass exploitation of Ivanti zero-day vulnerabilities affecting Connect Secure and Policy Secure gateways.
Attack Method: The vulnerabilities identified were CVE-2023-46805 (authentication bypass) and CVE-2024-21887 (command injection flaw). Initially exploited by suspected Chinese state-sponsored group UNC5221, multiple threat actors soon began mass exploitation.
Impact:
Over 1,700 ICS VPN appliances compromised with GIFTEDVISITOR web shell by mid-January
U.S. CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) systems breached
Critical infrastructure monitoring systems affected
Additional vulnerabilities discovered during incident response (CVE-2024-21893)
Timeline: Despite Ivanti's release of mitigations and patches, exploitation intensified rapidly, demonstrating the challenge of protecting against weaponized zero-days.
Lessons Learned:
Zero-day vulnerabilities require immediate patching
Multiple threat actors rapidly weaponize published vulnerabilities
Even security agencies face challenges defending against sophisticated attacks (CM Alliance and SOCRadar, 2024)
The Impact of Cyberattacks: Statistics and Costs
The scale and consequences of cyberattacks in 2024-2025 reveal a crisis of staggering proportions.
Global Attack Frequency
Daily Attack Volume:
Over 2,200 cyberattacks occur daily worldwide—one every 39 seconds (Keepnet and GetAstra, November 2024)
Approximately 4,000 cyber attacks happen every day (Fortinet, 2024)
Organizations faced an average of 1,876 attacks per quarter in Q3 2024, a 75% increase year-over-year (Check Point Research and Varonis, October 2024)
Quarterly and Annual Trends:
The second quarter of 2024 saw a 30% increase in cyberattacks compared to Q2 2023—the highest increase in the last two years (Check Point Research, 2024)
Global cyber attacks increased by 30% in Q2 2024, reaching 1,636 weekly attacks per organization (Check Point Research, 2024)
Financial Impact
Individual Breach Costs:
The global average cost of a data breach reached $4.88 million in 2024, a 10% increase over the previous year (IBM and Varonis, 2024)
Small companies averaged $3.31 million per breach, while very large firms averaged $5.42 million (Varonis, 2024)
Healthcare breach costs averaged $9.77 million in 2024 (IBM and Indusface, 2024)
Phishing-related breaches cost $4.88 million on average (IBM, 2024)
Global Economic Impact:
Cybercrime costs are estimated to hit $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, growing from $7 trillion in 2022 (Cybersecurity Ventures and AAG IT, 2024)
Some forecasts mention cybercrime costs reaching $23 trillion by 2027 (SentinelOne, 2024)
Global cybercrime costs will cross $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, marking a 10% year-over-year increase (CompTIA via Fortinet, 2024)
Identity Fraud:
Customers lost $27.2 billion to identity fraud in 2024, a 19% increase from the previous year (Javelin Strategy & Research, 2025)
The Federal Trade Commission received more than 1.2 million reports of identity theft in 2024 (Varonis, 2024)
Operational Impact
Detection and Containment Time:
It takes an average of 258 days for IT and security professionals to identify and contain a data breach (IBM and Ponemon Institute, 2024)
Average of 277 days to identify and contain a data breach (JumpCloud, 2024)
Breaches involving lost or stolen credentials take 328 days to identify and contain (SentinelOne, 2024)
Companies that contained breaches in under 200 days saved over $1 million compared to those taking longer (Indusface, 2024)
Business Consequences:
43% of businesses lost existing customers because of cyberattacks (Hiscox Cyber Readiness Report, 2024)
40% of small to medium-sized enterprises experience over eight hours of downtime following a cyberattack (CISCO via Indusface, 2024)
74% of CEOs are concerned about their organization's ability to reduce cyberattacks-related damages (Accenture, 2024)
Human Factor Statistics
The human element remains the weakest link in cybersecurity:
68% of breaches involved a human element in 2025 (Verizon, 2025)
90% of all cyber incidents result from human error or behavior (SentinelOne, 2024)
88% of cybersecurity incidents are due to mistakes made by employees (Stanford University and Tessian via Forenova, 2024)
98% of cyberattacks use social engineering (SentinelOne, 2024)
42% of organizations experienced a successful social engineering attack in the past year (Global Cybersecurity Outlook, 2025)
Ransomware-Specific Impact
Ransomware accounted for 59% of all cyberattacks in 2024, with 32% resulting from an unpatched vulnerability (Sophos, 2024)
The average ransomware payment reached $2 million in 2024 (Sophos, 2024)
94% of the initial ransom demand was paid by organizations (Sophos, 2024)
Less than 10% of businesses who paid ransom got all their data back (JumpCloud, 2024)
Paying a ransom makes it up to 80% more likely to experience additional attacks in the future (JumpCloud, 2024)
236.1 million ransomware attacks occurred globally in the first half of 2022 (AAG IT, 2024)
Vulnerability Exploitation
In 2024, a record-breaking 40,009 Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs) were published, marking a 39% increase from 2023 (Edgescan via Keepnet, 2024)
Vulnerability-based attacks surged by 124% in Q3 2024 compared to Q3 2023 (GitHub via Keepnet, 2024)
More than 99% of technologists acknowledge that production applications contain at least four vulnerabilities (Contrast Security via Keepnet, 2024)
Over 90% of successful breaches utilize known vulnerabilities that remain unpatched (JumpCloud, 2024)
Cybersecurity Workforce and Fatigue
70% of cybersecurity professionals say their organization is affected by a shortage of skilled IT employees (JumpCloud, 2024)
Cyber fatigue, or apathy to defending against cyberattacks, now affects 46% of organizations in 2025 (Accenture via Varonis, 2024)
50% of cybersecurity leaders are expected to change jobs due to stress by 2025 (Gartner via DurosTech, 2023)
Industry and Regional Variations
Cyberattacks don't affect all sectors and regions equally. Understanding these variations helps organizations assess their specific risk profiles.
Most Targeted Industries
Education and Research:
Most targeted sector with 3,828 weekly attacks in Q3 2024
Attacks more than doubled compared to the previous year (Check Point Research, October 2024)
In the U.S., education and research averaged 2,239 attacks weekly (Check Point Research, October 2024)
Government and Military:
Second most targeted with 2,553 weekly attacks in Q3 2024
Over 60% of attacks on government agencies involve ransomware (JumpCloud, 2024)
Cyberattacks on Indian government entities increased by 138% between 2019 and 2023, rising from 85,797 incidents to 204,844 (Indian Ministry of Electronics and IT, December 2024)
Healthcare:
Third most targeted with 2,434 weekly attacks in Q3 2024
Healthcare breach costs dropped 10.6% to $9.77 million in 2024, but remain the highest among all industries (IBM, 2024)
Attacks increased by 110% year-over-year in the U.S. to 2,170 weekly attacks (Check Point Research, October 2024)
Hospitals spend 64% more on advertising in the two years following a breach (American Journal of Managed Care via Fortinet, 2024)
Financial Services:
2024 saw focused attacks on banking and financial institutions
The 2023 ICBC Financial Services ransomware attack disrupted U.S. Treasury trades and repo financing (Secureframe, July 2024)
Retail:
Ransomware is deployed in 80% of cyberattacks on retail companies (JumpCloud, 2024)
Bot-driven attacks on retailers rose by 60% in 2024 (Indusface, 2024)
Utilities:
The industry with the largest growth in attacks
Attacks surged by 234% to an average of 1,339 weekly (Check Point Research, October 2024)
Hardware Vendors:
Experienced the most significant year-over-year increase with attacks soaring by 191% (Check Point Research, October 2024)
Regional Cyber Threat Landscape
Africa:
Faced the highest average of attacks at 3,370 per week in Q3 2024, a 90% year-over-year increase (Check Point Research, October 2024)
Europe:
Saw significant increases in attack frequencies
85% of all hacktivist attacks in 2023 occurred in Europe (Orange Cyberdefense, 2023)
Poland received over 1,000 cyberattacks per week in 2024, experiencing a sharp uptick since the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine (Embroker, April 2025)
Latin America:
Experienced substantial rises in attack frequencies alongside Africa and Europe (Check Point Research, October 2024)
North America:
The United States continues to have the highest cost of a data breach at $5.09 million (IBM, 2023)
In the U.S., cyberattacks rose by 56% year-over-year, with a weekly average of 1,300 attacks per organization (Check Point Research, October 2024)
59% of all ransomware attacks take place in the United States (Embroker, April 2025)
North America was most affected by ransomware, accounting for 57% of incidents in 2024 (Check Point Research, October 2024)
72% of Canadian small to medium-sized businesses experienced a cyber attack in 2024 (Embroker, April 2025)
65% of Mexican businesses reported an increase in breaches (Embroker, April 2025)
Asia:
Cyberattacks on Taiwan by Chinese groups doubled to 2.4 million daily attempts in 2024 (Taiwan National Security Bureau, January 2025)
Between November 2021 and October 2023, more than 70% of cyberattacks globally targeted the Microsoft Office Suite (Statista via Keepnet, 2024)
Countries Most at Risk:
Russia ranks highest for cybercrime risk according to the World Cybercrime Index, due to organized criminal activity, government involvement, and lack of legal enforcement (Embroker, April 2025)
Other at-risk regions include Ukraine, North Korea, Nigeria, China, Romania, Brazil, and India
Countries with Strongest Defenses:
Finland, Norway, and Denmark have the strongest cybersecurity systems and are most prepared for attacks (Embroker, April 2025)
Attack Surface: What Makes Systems Vulnerable
Understanding vulnerabilities helps organizations identify and address weaknesses before attackers exploit them.
Technical Vulnerabilities
Unpatched Software: According to a 2019 Ponemon Institute survey, 60% of breaches were caused by unpatched vulnerabilities—a trend that persists (Ponemon Institute via Indusface, 2024). The 2017 Equifax data breach, which exposed personal information of hundreds of millions of people, could have been prevented if the company had updated its systems two months prior when patches were available (Forenova, November 2024).
Misconfigured Systems: Improper configuration of security settings, cloud storage, databases, and network devices creates easy entry points. In late 2023, cybersecurity researcher Jeremiah Fowler discovered an unprotected database online containing 1.5 billion real estate records due to misconfiguration (Bluefin, July 2024).
Legacy Systems: Older systems running outdated operating systems or software no longer receiving security updates present significant risks. Many organizations continue operating legacy systems due to cost or compatibility constraints.
Weak Access Controls: Insufficient authentication requirements, overly permissive user privileges, and lack of network segmentation allow attackers to move laterally once inside a network.
Human Vulnerabilities
Lack of Security Awareness: Employees who don't recognize phishing attempts, use weak passwords, or fail to follow security protocols represent the most common vulnerability. As noted earlier, 90% of cyber incidents result from human error (SentinelOne, 2024).
Social Engineering Susceptibility: Psychological manipulation techniques exploit human nature—trust, fear, urgency, and helpfulness. Even technically sophisticated systems fail when users are tricked into providing access.
Insider Threats: Disgruntled employees, careless contractors, or compromised partners with legitimate access can cause immense damage. In 2024, 83% of businesses experienced at least one insider attack (AAG IT, 2024).
Organizational Vulnerabilities
Third-Party Risk: Supply chain attacks exploit trusted relationships between organizations and their vendors. The security posture of third-party service providers directly impacts their clients.
Insufficient Security Investment: The average security budget of small businesses is $500, while the average cost of a data breach is almost $5 million—a dangerous disparity (JumpCloud, 2024). Large enterprises spend approximately $2,700 per full-time employee per year on cybersecurity (Varonis, 2024).
Lack of Incident Response Plans: Organizations without prepared incident response plans take significantly longer to detect and contain breaches, dramatically increasing costs and damage.
Remote Work Expansion: When remote work is a factor in causing a data breach, the average cost per breach is $173,074 higher (IBM via Cobalt, 2024). Remote environments are harder to secure as they lie outside organizations' perimeters.
Emerging Attack Surfaces
Internet of Things (IoT): Connected devices often lack robust security features, creating entry points into networks. The proliferation of IoT devices expands attack surfaces dramatically.
Cloud Migration: While cloud services offer many benefits, improper configuration and misunderstood shared responsibility models create new vulnerabilities. Cloud environment attacks increased by 75% between 2023 and 2024 (JumpCloud, 2024).
AI and Machine Learning: While AI enhances security capabilities, attackers also leverage AI for more sophisticated attacks. Gartner states that 17% of cyberattacks will employ generative AI by 2027 (Fortinet, 2024). According to the World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2024, 47% of organizations rank adversarial generative AI developments as their most pressing concern (Fortinet, 2024).
Pros and Cons Analysis
While "pros" of cyberattacks seems counterintuitive, examining motivations and consequences from multiple perspectives provides insight.
From an Attacker's Perspective
Pros (Why Attacks Continue):
Financial Gain: Cybercrime offers substantial profits with lower risk than traditional crime. The average ransomware payment of $2 million (Sophos, 2024) demonstrates lucrative returns.
Low Barrier to Entry: Ransomware-as-a-Service platforms enable criminals with minimal technical skills to launch sophisticated attacks.
Anonymity: Cryptocurrency payments and anonymizing technologies make attribution and prosecution difficult.
Geographic Limitations: Attackers operate from jurisdictions with weak cybercrime enforcement or state protection.
Cons (Risks Attackers Face):
Law Enforcement: International cooperation has improved, leading to arrests and takedowns of major cybercriminal operations.
Technical Challenges: As defenses improve, attacks require more sophistication and effort.
Market Saturation: Increased competition among criminals may reduce profitability.
Retaliation: Nation-state attribution can lead to diplomatic or military consequences.
From a Defender's Perspective
Cons (Negative Impacts of Attacks):
Financial Losses: Direct costs average $4.88 million per breach, plus indirect costs from business disruption and reputation damage.
Operational Disruption: Attacks can halt business operations for days or weeks.
Data Loss: Irreplaceable information may be permanently lost.
Legal and Regulatory Consequences: Breaches trigger compliance violations, lawsuits, and regulatory fines.
Reputation Damage: 43% of businesses lost customers after cyberattacks (Hiscox, 2024).
Resource Drain: Security requires continuous investment in technology, personnel, and training.
Pros (Positive Outcomes of Security Focus):
Improved Security Posture: Attacks drive security improvements and awareness.
Innovation: The cybersecurity industry creates jobs and develops new technologies.
Compliance Benefits: Security investments often satisfy regulatory requirements.
Competitive Advantage: Strong security can differentiate organizations and build customer trust.
Risk Reduction: Proactive security significantly reduces breach likelihood and impact.
Societal Perspective
Negative Impacts:
Economic Burden: $10.5 trillion annual global cost by 2025 (Cybersecurity Ventures, 2024)
Critical Infrastructure Risk: Attacks on utilities, healthcare, and government systems endanger public safety
Privacy Erosion: Massive data breaches expose billions of individuals' personal information
Digital Divide: Security costs disadvantage smaller organizations and developing nations
Positive Outcomes:
Security Innovation: Drives development of new protective technologies
Job Creation: The cybersecurity industry employs millions and continues growing
Awareness: Increases understanding of digital risks among the general public
Improved Practices: Forces organizations to adopt better data handling and security practices
Myths vs Facts About Cyberattacks
Misconceptions about cyberattacks can lead to inadequate protection and poor response decisions.
Myth 1: "Only Large Organizations Get Attacked"
Fact: Attackers target organizations of all sizes. Small and medium-sized businesses are often preferred targets because they typically have weaker security. In 2024, 72% of Canadian small to medium-sized businesses experienced a cyber attack (Embroker, April 2025). The average cost of a cyber breach for small companies was $3.31 million (Varonis, 2024).
Myth 2: "Antivirus Software Provides Complete Protection"
Fact: Modern cyberattacks employ multiple techniques that bypass traditional antivirus. While antivirus remains important, comprehensive security requires multiple layers including firewalls, intrusion detection, employee training, multi-factor authentication, and regular updates. Over 90% of successful breaches exploit known vulnerabilities rather than requiring zero-day exploits (JumpCloud, 2024).
Myth 3: "Cybersecurity Is Only an IT Department Issue"
Fact: Security is everyone's responsibility. As 90% of cyber incidents result from human error (SentinelOne, 2024), every employee plays a critical role. Executive leadership must prioritize security, allocate resources, and foster a security-conscious culture.
Myth 4: "We Have Backups, So Ransomware Isn't a Threat"
Fact: Modern ransomware employs double and triple extortion tactics. Even with backups, attackers threaten to publicly release stolen data, contact customers/partners, or launch DDoS attacks. Only 10% of organizations that paid ransoms received all their data back (JumpCloud, 2024).
Myth 5: "Strong Passwords Are Enough"
Fact: While strong passwords are important, 80% of data breaches involve password-related issues (TechRadar, 2024). Multi-factor authentication is essential—accounts with MFA are 99.22% less likely to be compromised (NordLayer, 2024).
Myth 6: "Hackers Are All Criminal Geniuses"
Fact: Many cyberattacks require minimal technical sophistication. Phishing exploits human psychology rather than technical skills. Ransomware-as-a-Service platforms allow criminals to launch attacks with little expertise. However, nation-state attackers and organized cybercriminal groups do employ highly skilled professionals.
Myth 7: "Cyberattacks Are Immediately Obvious"
Fact: The average time to detect and contain a breach is 277 days (JumpCloud, 2024). Sophisticated attackers remain undetected for months or years, quietly gathering intelligence and positioning for maximum impact.
Myth 8: "Once Patched, Systems Are Secure"
Fact: New vulnerabilities continuously emerge. In 2024, 40,009 new CVEs were published (Edgescan, 2024). Security requires ongoing vigilance, continuous monitoring, and regular updates. Threat actors constantly develop new attack methods.
Myth 9: "Paying Ransoms Solves the Problem"
Fact: Paying ransoms makes organizations up to 80% more likely to be attacked again (JumpCloud, 2024). Payments fund criminal operations and don't guarantee data recovery. Law enforcement and security experts strongly recommend against paying ransoms except in extreme circumstances.
Myth 10: "We're Not Interesting to Attackers"
Fact: Attackers often use automated tools that scan for vulnerabilities indiscriminately. Many attacks are opportunistic rather than targeted. Any organization with data, money, or network connectivity is a potential target. In 2024, 97% of threat actors were financially motivated (Verizon, 2023).
Myth 11: "Cloud Services Are Always More/Less Secure"
Fact: Cloud security depends on proper configuration and the shared responsibility model. Cloud providers secure the infrastructure, but customers must secure their data, applications, and access controls. Cloud environment attacks increased by 75% between 2023 and 2024 (JumpCloud, 2024).
Prevention and Protection Strategies
Effective cybersecurity requires a multi-layered approach addressing technical, procedural, and human factors.
Essential Security Hygiene Practices
1. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Multi-factor authentication represents the single most effective security control. MFA reduces compromise risk by 99.22% overall and by 98.56% with leaked credentials (NordLayer, 2024). Over 99.9% of compromised accounts don't have MFA enabled (NordLayer, 2024).
MFA should use:
Authentication apps or hardware tokens (preferred over SMS)
Biometric verification where available
Enforcement for all accounts, especially privileged access
Persistent authentication—MFA must remain consistently enabled
2. Maintain Strong Password Policies
With 80% of data breaches involving password-related issues (TechRadar, 2024), password management is critical:
Require passwords with minimum 12 characters combining uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and special characters
Implement password managers to securely store unique passwords for each service
Prohibit password reuse across systems
Enforce regular password changes for privileged accounts
Use passphrases rather than complex passwords when appropriate
3. Keep Systems and Software Updated
Over 90% of successful breaches exploit known vulnerabilities that remain unpatched (JumpCloud, 2024). The WannaCry ransomware attack in May 2017 was largely caused by organizations that had not updated their systems with necessary security fixes (TechRadar, 2024).
Update strategy:
Enable automatic updates when possible
Prioritize critical security patches
Maintain an inventory of all software and systems
Test patches in non-production environments before widespread deployment
Apply patches promptly—most attacks target known vulnerabilities
4. Deploy Comprehensive Backup Systems
Backups protect against ransomware and data loss:
Follow the 3-2-1 rule: 3 copies of data, on 2 different media types, with 1 copy offsite
Ensure backups are isolated from the primary network
Test restoration procedures regularly
Encrypt backup data
Maintain multiple generations of backups
5. Implement Network Segmentation
Network segmentation limits lateral movement if attackers breach perimeter defenses:
Separate networks for different functions (operations, guest access, critical systems)
Use VLANs and firewalls to enforce segmentation
Apply zero-trust principles—verify every connection
Restrict administrative access to specific network segments
Monitor traffic between segments for anomalies
Advanced Security Controls
6. Deploy Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
Modern endpoint security goes beyond traditional antivirus:
Use behavior-based detection to identify novel threats
Implement automated response capabilities
Maintain visibility across all endpoints
Apply machine learning for anomaly detection
Ensure EDR covers all devices including mobile and IoT
7. Implement Email Security
Given that 75% of targeted attacks start with email (Norton, 2024):
Deploy advanced email filtering and sandboxing
Scan all attachments before delivery
Use link protection to check URLs in real-time
Implement DMARC, SPF, and DKIM authentication
Consider email isolation technologies
8. Utilize Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
SIEM systems provide centralized logging and real-time analysis:
Aggregate logs from all systems
Correlate events to detect complex attack patterns
Generate alerts for suspicious activities
Maintain logs for forensic investigation
Integrate threat intelligence feeds
9. Conduct Regular Security Assessments
Proactive identification of vulnerabilities:
Perform quarterly vulnerability scans
Conduct annual penetration testing
Review security configurations regularly
Assess third-party security posture
Implement continuous security monitoring
10. Establish Zero Trust Architecture
Zero trust assumes breach and verifies every connection:
Authenticate and authorize all users and devices
Implement least-privilege access
Encrypt all data in transit and at rest
Continuously verify security posture
Organizations with zero-trust approaches saw average breach costs $1.76 million less than organizations without (IBM via Varonis, 2024)
Organizational and Human Factors
11. Implement Comprehensive Security Awareness Training
Since 88% of incidents involve human error (Stanford/Tessian via Forenova, 2024):
Conduct quarterly security awareness training
Simulate phishing attacks to test employee vigilance
Train employees to recognize social engineering
Establish clear reporting procedures for suspicious activity
Provide role-specific training for high-risk positions
Make cybersecurity part of onboarding
12. Develop and Test Incident Response Plans
Companies that contained breaches in under 200 days saved over $1 million (Indusface, 2024):
Create documented incident response procedures
Define roles and responsibilities
Establish communication protocols
Conduct tabletop exercises quarterly
Maintain relationships with external incident response resources
Document lessons learned from incidents and exercises
13. Establish Vendor Security Management
With 40% of threats occurring through supply chains (AAG IT, 2024):
Assess third-party security posture before engagement
Include security requirements in contracts
Monitor vendor compliance continuously
Limit vendor access to necessary systems only
Have contingency plans for vendor compromises
14. Create a Security-First Culture
Executive support and organizational culture determine security effectiveness:
Gain C-suite commitment and involvement
Allocate adequate budget (85% of organizations planned to increase cybersecurity budgets in 2024, with 19% expecting growth of 15% or more—PwC via Fortinet, 2024)
Make security part of performance evaluations
Celebrate security successes and near-misses
Encourage reporting without punishment
Lead by example from the top
Specific Protection Against Common Attacks
Ransomware Protection:
Maintain offline backups
Restrict administrative privileges
Disable macros in Office documents
Filter executable files from email
Implement application whitelisting
Phishing Protection:
Examine email headers carefully
Hover over links to verify destinations
Verify requests through alternate channels
Question urgent or unusual requests
Report suspicious emails immediately
DDoS Protection:
Use cloud-based DDoS mitigation services
Implement rate limiting
Maintain excess bandwidth capacity
Have DDoS response plan
Work with ISP for upstream filtering
MitM Protection:
Use encrypted connections (HTTPS, VPNs)
Avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive activities
Verify SSL/TLS certificates
Implement certificate pinning where possible
Use VPN for remote work
Compliance and Standards
Align security practices with established frameworks:
NIST Cybersecurity Framework 2.0: Provides comprehensive standards divided into Identify, Protect, Detect, Respond, and Recover categories (NIST, 2024)
ISO/IEC 27001: International standard for IT security management systems (ISO, 2022)
SOC 2: Compliance standards for service providers managing data (AICPA, 2024)
Organizations implementing mature frameworks demonstrate better security outcomes and reduced breach costs.
Future Outlook: Emerging Threats and Trends
Understanding evolving threats helps organizations prepare for tomorrow's challenges.
Artificial Intelligence in Cyber Warfare
AI represents both threat and defense. Gartner predicts that 17% of cyberattacks will employ generative AI by 2027 (Fortinet, 2024). The World Economic Forum's Global Risks Report 2024 found that 47% of organizations rank adversarial generative AI as their most pressing concern (Fortinet, 2024).
AI-Powered Attacks:
Sophisticated phishing using natural language generation
Automated vulnerability discovery
Deepfake social engineering (voice and video impersonation)
AI-driven malware that adapts to defenses
Faster reconnaissance and exploitation
AI-Enhanced Defense:
Real-time threat detection and response
Behavioral anomaly identification
Automated security operations
Predictive threat intelligence
Security AI reduced breach costs by 34% in 2025, saving $1.9 million on average (IBM via Varonis, 2024)
According to the Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025, 66% of organizations expect AI to impact cybersecurity in 2025, but only 37% have processes to assess AI tool security before deployment (Fortinet, 2024).
Quantum Computing Threat
Quantum computing poses an existential threat to current encryption methods. In 2024, governments and businesses began preparing by integrating quantum-resistant cryptographic algorithms (NordLayer, 2024). By 2026, organizations must transition to post-quantum cryptography as quantum computers capable of breaking current encryption approach viability.
Nation-State Cyber Operations
Geopolitical tensions drive increasing state-sponsored attacks:
Critical infrastructure targeting
Long-term espionage campaigns
Pre-positioning for potential conflict
Information warfare and election interference
Living-off-the-land techniques avoiding detection
The 2024 Salt Typhoon campaign demonstrates how nation-state actors conduct sustained espionage with sophisticated tools (CSIS, 2024). Hacktivist involvement in APT attacks increased from 2% historically to 10% in 2024, connected to geopolitical conflicts (JumpCloud, 2024).
Supply Chain Sophistication
Supply chain attacks will continue evolving:
Targeting software development pipelines
Compromising hardware during manufacturing
Exploiting cloud service provider relationships
Attacking open-source software dependencies
Third-party and fourth-party risk management challenges
IoT and Operational Technology (OT) Vulnerabilities
The expanding IoT landscape creates new attack surfaces:
Billions of connected devices with varying security
Industrial control systems increasingly connected
Smart cities and infrastructure digitization
Healthcare device proliferation
Vehicle connectivity risks
Ransomware Evolution
Ransomware will continue advancing:
Quadruple extortion adding more pressure points
Targeting of cloud-based backups
Ransomware specifically designed for cloud environments
Integration with other attack types
Increased targeting of critical infrastructure
Cybersecurity Investment Trends
Global spending reflects growing threat awareness:
Cybersecurity market expected to reach $300 billion in 2024 (JumpCloud, 2024)
Statista Market Report's information security spending reached $176 billion in 2023, projected to exceed $300 billion by 2030—triple the 2017 amount (Embroker, 2024)
85% of organizations planned to increase cybersecurity budgets in 2024 (PwC via Fortinet, 2024)
Cyber insurance premiums in the U.S. surged 50% in 2022 to $7.2 billion (Insurance Journal via Cobalt, 2024)
Skills Gap and Workforce Challenges
The cybersecurity workforce faces critical challenges:
70% of organizations affected by skilled IT employee shortages (JumpCloud, 2024)
50% of cybersecurity leaders expected to change jobs by 2025 due to stress (Gartner via DurosTech, 2023)
46% of organizations affected by cyber fatigue in 2025 (Accenture via Varonis, 2024)
Need for continuous training and certification
Automation partially addresses shortage
Zero Trust Adoption
Zero trust represents the future of security architecture:
By 2026, mature zero-trust implementation projected to reach 10% in large organizations, up from current 1% (Gartner via DurosTech, 2023)
Moving from perimeter-based to identity-based security
Micro-segmentation and continuous verification
Integration with cloud-native architectures
Adoption of zero trust reduced breach costs by $1.76 million on average (IBM via Varonis, 2024)
Regulatory Evolution
Expect increased government involvement:
Mandatory breach notification requirements
Critical infrastructure protection mandates
Data privacy regulations expansion
Cybersecurity insurance requirements
International cooperation frameworks
Preparing for the Future
Organizations should:
Invest in AI-powered security tools while understanding AI risks
Begin quantum-readiness planning and cryptographic agility
Strengthen supply chain security with rigorous vendor management
Implement zero trust architecture progressively
Develop threat intelligence capabilities for proactive defense
Address workforce challenges through training, retention, and automation
Participate in information sharing with industry peers
Conduct scenario planning for emerging threats
Build resilience rather than just prevention
Maintain agility to adapt as threats evolve
FAQ: Common Questions About Cyberattacks
1. How often do cyberattacks occur?
Cyberattacks occur constantly on a global scale. Over 2,200 cyberattacks happen daily worldwide, equating to one attack every 39 seconds (Keepnet and GetAstra, November 2024). Organizations faced an average of 1,876 attacks per quarter in 2024, representing a 75% year-over-year increase (Check Point Research, October 2024).
2. What is the most common type of cyberattack?
Phishing remains the most prevalent cyberattack type, accounting for 39.6% of all email threats and initiating 80-95% of human-associated breaches (Hornetsecurity and Comcast Business, 2024). Among system-level attacks, ransomware accounted for 59% of all cyberattacks faced by organizations in 2024 (Sophos, 2024).
3. How much does a cyberattack typically cost?
The global average cost of a data breach reached $4.88 million in 2024, a 10% increase over the previous year (IBM, 2024). However, costs vary significantly by organization size and industry. Small companies averaged $3.31 million per breach, while very large firms averaged $5.42 million. Healthcare breach costs averaged $9.77 million (IBM and Indusface, 2024).
4. Can individuals be targeted by cyberattacks?
Yes. Individuals face threats including phishing emails, identity theft, credential theft, social media scams, and ransomware. In 2024, customers lost $27.2 billion to identity fraud, a 19% increase from the previous year (Javelin Strategy & Research, 2025). The Federal Trade Commission received more than 1.2 million reports of identity theft in 2024 (Varonis, 2024).
5. How long does it take to detect a cyberattack?
On average, it takes 277 days to identify and contain a data breach (JumpCloud, 2024). The IBM 2024 Cost of a Data Breach report specified it takes an average of 258 days, breaking down to 204 days to discover the breach and an additional 73 days to contain it (Embroker, 2024). Breaches involving lost or stolen credentials take even longer—328 days to identify and contain (SentinelOne, 2024).
6. Should I pay a ransom if attacked?
Cybersecurity experts and law enforcement strongly recommend against paying ransoms except in extreme circumstances. Here's why:
Less than 10% of businesses that paid ransoms received all their data back (JumpCloud, 2024)
Paying makes organizations up to 80% more likely to be attacked again (JumpCloud, 2024)
Payments fund criminal operations and incentivize future attacks
No guarantee attackers will honor agreements
May violate sanctions against certain cybercriminal groups
Focus instead on prevention, backups, and incident response planning.
7. Are small businesses really at risk?
Absolutely. Small and medium-sized businesses are increasingly targeted because they often have weaker security. In 2024, 72% of Canadian small to medium-sized businesses experienced a cyber attack (Embroker, April 2025). The average security budget of small businesses is $500, while the average cost of a breach is almost $5 million—a dangerous disparity (JumpCloud, 2024).
8. What's the difference between a virus and a worm?
Viruses attach to legitimate files and require user action to spread (opening an infected file). Worms are standalone programs that self-replicate and spread autonomously across networks without needing user interaction. The 1988 Morris Worm demonstrated this distinction, spreading automatically and infecting 10% of the Internet within 24 hours (FBI, October 2022).
9. How effective is antivirus software?
While antivirus software remains an important security layer, it's insufficient alone. Modern attacks often bypass traditional signature-based antivirus detection. Over 90% of successful breaches exploit known vulnerabilities rather than requiring sophisticated malware (JumpCloud, 2024). Effective security requires multiple layers including firewalls, intrusion detection, employee training, multi-factor authentication, and regular updates.
10. What is zero trust security?
Zero trust is a security framework that assumes breaches can and will occur, requiring verification of every user, device, and connection regardless of whether they're inside or outside the network perimeter. Instead of trusting entities based on network location, zero trust continuously verifies security posture, implements least-privilege access, and encrypts all data. Organizations with zero-trust approaches saw average breach costs $1.76 million less than organizations without (IBM via Varonis, 2024).
11. Can cyberattacks physically harm people?
Yes. Cyberattacks on critical infrastructure can cause physical harm:
Attacks on hospitals can disrupt life-saving equipment and medical records
Power grid attacks can cause blackouts affecting millions
Transportation system compromises can endanger safety
Industrial control system attacks can cause explosions or equipment failures
The Stuxnet attack on Iran's nuclear program caused physical centrifuge destruction
The Change Healthcare attack in February 2024 disrupted healthcare services nationwide, forcing patients to delay medications and treatments (CM Alliance, 2024).
12. What role does employee training play in cybersecurity?
Employee training is critical. 90% of cyber incidents result from human error or behavior (SentinelOne, 2024), and 88% of cybersecurity incidents are due to employee mistakes (Stanford/Tessian via Forenova, 2024). Phishing attacks exploit human psychology rather than technical vulnerabilities. Regular security awareness training, simulated phishing exercises, and a security-conscious culture significantly reduce breach risk.
13. Are cloud services more or less secure than on-premises systems?
Neither inherently. Cloud security depends on proper configuration and understanding the shared responsibility model—cloud providers secure infrastructure, but customers must secure their data, applications, and access controls. Cloud environment attacks increased by 75% between 2023 and 2024, often due to misconfiguration rather than provider vulnerabilities (JumpCloud, 2024). Properly configured cloud services can be more secure than on-premises systems, benefiting from providers' security expertise and resources.
14. How can I tell if I've been affected by a data breach?
Signs include:
Unfamiliar charges on bank or credit card statements
Password reset emails you didn't request
Locked out of accounts
Unusual activity in online accounts
Notifications from companies about data breaches
Unfamiliar accounts opened in your name
Credit score changes
However, 64% of Americans have never checked if they were affected by a data breach (Varonis, 2024). Use free services like Have I Been Pwned (haveibeenpwned.com) to check if your email appears in known breaches. Monitor credit reports regularly.
15. What should I do immediately after discovering a cyberattack?
Contain the threat: Disconnect affected systems from the network (but don't power them off—this may destroy forensic evidence)
Activate incident response plan: Contact your incident response team or security provider
Preserve evidence: Document everything and avoid actions that might destroy logs or forensic data
Notify stakeholders: Inform management, IT, legal, and potentially law enforcement
Assess the scope: Determine what systems and data were affected
Begin recovery: Follow your incident response procedures for remediation
Communicate appropriately: Notify affected parties according to regulatory requirements
Learn and improve: Conduct post-incident review and implement lessons learned
16. Can cyberattacks be prevented completely?
No. While strong security significantly reduces risk, no system is completely invulnerable. Attackers continuously develop new techniques, and organizations face limitations including budget constraints, human error, and the need for usability. The goal isn't perfect prevention but rather:
Reducing the likelihood of successful attacks
Detecting attacks quickly when they occur
Limiting the impact and scope of breaches
Recovering effectively and efficiently
Building resilience to continue operations during incidents
Companies that contained breaches in under 200 days saved over $1 million compared to those taking longer (Indusface, 2024), highlighting the importance of detection and response.
17. What is the dark web's role in cyberattacks?
The dark web serves as a marketplace for cybercriminal activity:
Stolen credentials and data are bought and sold
Hacking tools and exploit kits are available for purchase
Ransomware-as-a-Service platforms operate
Criminal forums share techniques and collaborate
Attackers remain anonymous through encrypted networks
The National Public Data breach exposed 2.9 billion records, with the stolen database listed on the dark web for $3.5 million (Picus Security, January 2025). However, most cyberattack activities occur on the regular internet, not exclusively the dark web.
18. How do nation-state cyberattacks differ from criminal attacks?
Nation-state attacks typically:
Focus on espionage and intelligence gathering rather than immediate financial gain
Operate with substantially greater resources and sophistication
May target critical infrastructure for strategic positioning
Persist for months or years conducting reconnaissance
Face fewer consequences due to state protection
60-70% of APT attacks focus on espionage (JumpCloud, 2024)
Criminal attacks prioritize quick financial returns through ransomware, theft, and fraud. However, the lines blur as nations employ criminal groups and criminals adopt nation-state techniques.
19. What cybersecurity measures provide the best return on investment?
Based on impact statistics, prioritize:
Multi-factor Authentication: Reduces compromise by 99.22% (NordLayer, 2024)
Employee Security Training: Addresses 88% of incidents caused by human error (Stanford/Tessian, 2024)
Timely Patching: Prevents exploitation of 90% of successful breaches using known vulnerabilities (JumpCloud, 2024)
Offline Backups: Enables recovery from ransomware without payment
Zero Trust Architecture: Reduces breach costs by $1.76 million on average (IBM, 2024)
Security AI Tools: Reduces breach costs by 34%, saving $1.9 million on average (IBM, 2024)
The average small business security budget is $500, grossly insufficient given the $5 million average breach cost (JumpCloud, 2024).
20. Will cyberattacks get worse in the future?
Yes, all trends indicate escalation:
Global cybercrime costs projected to reach $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, up from $7 trillion in 2022 (Cybersecurity Ventures, 2024)
Attacks increased 75% year-over-year in 2024 (Check Point Research, October 2024)
AI empowers both attackers and defenders, but attackers currently lead in adoption
Geopolitical tensions drive nation-state attacks
Expanding digital attack surface (IoT, cloud, remote work)
Ransomware industrialization through RaaS platforms
Quantum computing threatens current encryption
However, security technologies and practices also advance. Organizations investing in comprehensive security, employee training, and incident response can significantly reduce their risk despite the escalating threat landscape.
Key Takeaways
Cyberattacks are pervasive and accelerating: With over 2,200 daily attacks globally (one every 39 seconds) and a 75% year-over-year increase in attack frequency, no organization is immune from cyber threats.
Financial impact is staggering: The global average breach costs $4.88 million, while total global cybercrime costs will reach $10.5 trillion annually by 2025—making cybercrime more costly than natural disasters.
Human error remains the primary vulnerability: 90% of cyber incidents involve human mistakes, making employee training and security awareness critical components of any defense strategy.
Ransomware dominates the threat landscape: Accounting for 59% of all attacks, with average payments reaching $2 million and only 10% of paying victims recovering all data, ransomware represents an existential business threat.
Detection time kills: The average 277 days to identify and contain breaches dramatically increases costs and damage—organizations containing breaches in under 200 days save over $1 million.
Multi-factor authentication is non-negotiable: MFA reduces compromise risk by 99.22%, yet over 99.9% of compromised accounts lack this basic protection.
Unpatched vulnerabilities enable 90% of breaches: Regular updates and patch management prevent the vast majority of successful attacks, which exploit known rather than zero-day vulnerabilities.
No sector is safe: Education, government, healthcare, and financial services face the highest attack volumes, but every industry and organization size is targeted.
Prevention alone is insufficient: Comprehensive security requires detection, response, and recovery capabilities alongside preventative measures—building resilience matters more than perfect prevention.
AI will transform the cybersecurity landscape: Both attackers and defenders increasingly leverage AI, with 17% of attacks expected to employ generative AI by 2027 while AI-enhanced defenses reduce breach costs by 34%.
Actionable Next Steps
Protect yourself and your organization with these concrete actions:
Immediate Actions (Today)
Enable multi-factor authentication on all accounts, prioritizing email, financial services, and administrative access
Change weak or reused passwords using a password manager to generate and store unique, strong credentials
Update all software and operating systems to the latest versions with security patches applied
Verify backup systems are working and test data restoration procedures
Short-Term Actions (This Week)
Conduct a security awareness session with your team, family, or colleagues about phishing, social engineering, and basic cyber hygiene
Implement email security measures including spam filters, link protection, and attachment sandboxing
Review and restrict user privileges following the principle of least privilege—grant only necessary access
Enable logging and monitoring on critical systems to improve detection capabilities
Medium-Term Actions (This Month)
Develop or update incident response plans defining roles, procedures, and communication protocols for breach scenarios
Conduct a security assessment identifying vulnerabilities in your environment through scanning or professional evaluation
Implement network segmentation separating critical systems from general access networks
Establish vendor security requirements for third-party service providers with access to your systems or data
Long-Term Actions (This Quarter and Beyond)
Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions providing advanced threat detection and automated response
Begin zero trust architecture implementation progressively moving from perimeter-based to identity-based security
Establish a security training program with regular sessions, simulated phishing exercises, and role-specific training
Consider cyber insurance as part of your risk management strategy, understanding coverage and requirements
For Individuals
Monitor credit reports and financial accounts regularly for signs of identity theft or fraud
Use encrypted communications (HTTPS websites, VPNs) especially on public Wi-Fi networks
Be skeptical of unsolicited communications verifying requests through alternate channels before taking action
Keep devices updated including smartphones, tablets, smart home devices, and IoT equipment
Stay Informed
Subscribe to security alerts from vendors, CISA, and industry-specific information sharing organizations
Follow reputable cybersecurity news sources to stay informed about emerging threats and trends
Participate in industry forums and information sharing groups to learn from peers' experiences
Glossary
Advanced Persistent Threat (APT): Sophisticated, long-term targeted attack typically conducted by nation-states or well-funded groups, involving extensive reconnaissance, custom malware, and sustained network access.
Backdoor: Hidden method of bypassing normal authentication to gain unauthorized access to a system.
Botnet: Network of compromised computers or devices controlled by an attacker, typically used for DDoS attacks, spam distribution, or cryptocurrency mining.
Breach: Successful unauthorized access to a system or data, resulting in data exposure, theft, or compromise.
Credential Stuffing: Attack using automated tools to try stolen username/password combinations across multiple services, exploiting password reuse.
Cryptojacking: Unauthorized use of someone's computing resources to mine cryptocurrency.
CVE (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures): Standardized identifier for publicly known cybersecurity vulnerabilities, maintained by MITRE Corporation.
DDoS (Distributed Denial-of-Service): Attack overwhelming a system with traffic from multiple sources, making it unavailable to legitimate users.
Double Extortion: Ransomware tactic combining file encryption with data theft, threatening to publish stolen information unless ransom is paid.
EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response): Security solution providing continuous monitoring and response capabilities for endpoint devices.
Exploit: Code or technique taking advantage of a vulnerability to gain unauthorized access or cause unintended behavior.
Firewall: Network security device monitoring and controlling incoming and outgoing traffic based on predetermined security rules.
Hacktivism: Hacking activities motivated by political or social ideology rather than financial gain.
IoT (Internet of Things): Network of physical devices with sensors, software, and connectivity, often with weak security.
Living off the Land (LOTL): Attack technique using legitimate system tools rather than custom malware to avoid detection.
Malware: Malicious software designed to damage, disrupt, or gain unauthorized access to systems—includes viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, and spyware.
Man-in-the-Middle (MitM): Attack intercepting communications between two parties without their knowledge.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Security method requiring multiple forms of verification before granting access, typically combining something you know (password), something you have (phone/token), and/or something you are (biometric).
Patch: Software update fixing vulnerabilities or bugs—critical for security maintenance.
Penetration Testing: Authorized simulated cyberattack testing security defenses and identifying vulnerabilities.
Phishing: Social engineering attack using deceptive communications (typically email) to trick victims into revealing sensitive information or downloading malware.
RaaS (Ransomware-as-a-Service): Criminal business model providing ransomware platforms and tools to less technical criminals in exchange for a share of profits.
Ransomware: Malware encrypting files or systems and demanding payment for decryption, often with additional extortion tactics.
SIEM (Security Information and Event Management): System providing real-time analysis of security alerts from hardware and applications.
Social Engineering: Psychological manipulation technique exploiting human behavior to gain unauthorized access or information.
Spear Phishing: Targeted phishing attack customized for specific individuals or organizations using personalized information.
Supply Chain Attack: Attack targeting less-secure elements in an organization's supply chain to access the primary target.
Threat Actor: Individual, group, or organization conducting cyberattacks—includes cybercriminals, nation-states, hacktivists, and insiders.
Trojan: Malware disguised as legitimate software, tricking users into installation.
Vulnerability: Weakness in a system that can be exploited by attackers.
Worm: Self-replicating malware spreading autonomously across networks without user interaction.
Zero Trust: Security framework assuming breach and requiring continuous verification of all users, devices, and connections regardless of location.
Zero-Day Exploit: Attack targeting previously unknown vulnerabilities before patches are available—particularly dangerous because no defenses exist.
Sources and References
This guide draws from peer-reviewed research, government agencies, reputable cybersecurity firms, and authoritative industry sources:
AAG IT Support Services (October 2024). "The Latest Cyber Crime Statistics." https://aag-it.com/the-latest-cyber-crime-statistics/
Accenture (2024). "Cyber Resilience Report." Via Fortinet and Varonis.
American Journal of Managed Care (2024). Hospital Advertising Costs Post-Breach Study. Via Fortinet and Keepnet.
APWG (Anti-Phishing Working Group) (Q4 2024). "Phishing Activity Trends Report." Via Fortinet.
Bluefin (July 2024). "14 of the Biggest Data Breaches." https://www.bluefin.com/bluefin-news/14-biggest-data-breaches/
Check Point Research (October 2024). "A Closer Look at Q3 2024: 75% Surge in Cyber Attacks Worldwide." https://blog.checkpoint.com/research/a-closer-look-at-q3-2024-75-surge-in-cyber-attacks-worldwide/
CISCO (2024). Cybersecurity Report. Via Indusface.
CM Alliance (2024). "Top 10 Biggest Cyber Attacks of 2024 & 25 Other Attacks to Know About!" https://www.cm-alliance.com/cybersecurity-blog/top-10-biggest-cyber-attacks-of-2024-25-other-attacks-to-know-about
CM Alliance (2024). "How Global Malware Incidents Transformed Cybersecurity." https://www.cm-alliance.com/cybersecurity-blog/how-global-malware-incidents-transformed-cybersecurity
Cobalt (April 2024). "Top Cybersecurity Statistics for 2024." https://www.cobalt.io/blog/cybersecurity-statistics-2024
Comcast Business (2024). "Cybersecurity Threat Report." Via Fortinet.
Cornell University Alumni (November 2023). "The 'Morris Worm': A Notorious Chapter of the Internet's..." https://alumni.cornell.edu/cornellians/morris-worm/
CSIS (Center for Strategic and International Studies) (2024). "Significant Cyber Incidents." https://www.csis.org/programs/strategic-technologies-program/significant-cyber-incidents
Cybersecurity Ventures (2024). Global Cybercrime Cost Projections. Via Varonis and AAG IT.
DurosTech (November 2023). "Cybersecurity: How to Take Care of Cybersecurity in 2024." https://durostech.com/cybersecurity-how-to-take-care-of-cybersecurity-in-2024/
Edgescan (2024). Vulnerability Statistics. Via Keepnet.
Embroker (April 2025). "Cyberattack Statistics 2025." https://www.embroker.com/blog/cyber-attack-statistics/
FBI (October 2022). "Morris Worm." https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/morris-worm
Forenova (November 2024). "Best Practices to Protect from Cyber Threats in 2024." https://www.forenova.com/threat-detection/cybersecurity-best-practices/
Fortinet (2024). "Top Cybersecurity Statistics: Facts, Stats and Breaches for 2025." https://www.fortinet.com/resources/cyberglossary/cybersecurity-statistics
Gartner (2024). Cybersecurity Projections and AI Statistics. Via Fortinet and DurosTech.
GitHub (2024). Vulnerability Statistics. Via Keepnet.
Hiscox (2024). "Cyber Readiness Report 2024." Via Fortinet.
Hornetsecurity (2024). "Cyber Security Report 2024." Via Cobalt.
IBM Security (2024). "Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024." Via Fortinet, Varonis, SentinelOne, and Indusface.
IBM Security X-Force (2023, 2025). "Threat Intelligence Index." Via Fortinet and Keepnet.
Indian Ministry of Electronics and IT (December 2024). Cybersecurity Statistics. Via CSIS.
Indusface (July 2024, 2024). "192 Cybersecurity Statistics for 2025." https://www.indusface.com/blog/key-cybersecurity-statistics/
Javelin Strategy & Research (2025). "Identity Fraud Study." Via Fortinet.
JumpCloud (July 2024). "90+ 2024 Cybersecurity Statistics and Trends." https://jumpcloud.com/blog/cyber-attack-statistics-trends
Keepnet (November 2024). "300 Cyber Security Statistics, Facts, Figures." https://keepnetlabs.com/blog/171-cyber-security-statistics-2024-s-updated-trends-and-data
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (2024). "The 1988 Morris Worm, the Internet's First Cyberattack." https://st.llnl.gov/news/look-back/1988-morris-worm-internets-first-cyberattack
Netwrix (May 2024). "The 12 Most Common Types of Cybersecurity Attacks Today." https://blog.netwrix.com/types-of-cyber-attacks
NordLayer (2024). "Cybersecurity Statistics of 2024: Key Insights and Numbers." https://nordlayer.com/blog/cybersecurity-statistics-of-2024/
Norton Antivirus (2024). Phishing Statistics. Via Keepnet.
Orange Cyberdefense (2023). Cybersecurity Report. Via Cobalt.
Picus Security (January 2025). "The Major Cyber Breaches and Attack Campaigns of 2024." https://www.picussecurity.com/resource/blog/the-major-cyber-breaches-and-attack-campaigns-of-2024
Ponemon Institute (2019, 2024). Vulnerability and Breach Studies. Via Indusface and IBM.
PwC (2024). "Global Digital Trust Insights." Via Fortinet.
Secureframe (July 2024). "20 Recent Cyber Attacks & What They Tell Us About the Future of Cybersecurity." https://secureframe.com/blog/recent-cyber-attacks
SentinelOne (November 2024). "Key Cyber Security Statistics for 2025." https://www.sentinelone.com/cybersecurity-101/cybersecurity/cyber-security-statistics/
SOCRadar (January 2025). "Cybersecurity in 2025: A Look Back at 2024's Biggest Cyber Attacks & Lessons for the Future." https://socradar.io/cybersecurity-in-2025-2024s-biggest-cyber-attacks-lessons-for-future/
Sophos (2024). "The State of Ransomware 2024." Via Fortinet.
SpyCloud (2023). "Ransomware Defense Report." Via Cobalt.
Stanford University / Tessian (2024). Joint Cybersecurity Study on Human Error. Via Forenova.
Taiwan National Security Bureau (January 2025). Cyberattack Statistics. Via CSIS.
TechRadar (June 2024). "10 Cybersecurity Best Practices to Prevent Cyber Attacks in 2024." https://www.techradar.com/pro/10-cybersecurity-best-practices-to-prevent-cyber-attacks-in-2024
Tom's Hardware (November 2024). "37 Years Ago This Week, the Morris Worm Infected 10% of the Internet." https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/cyber-security/on-this-day-in-1988-the-morris-worm-slithered-out-and-sparked-a-new-era-in-cybersecurity
U.S. CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency) (2024). "Cybersecurity Best Practices." https://www.cisa.gov/topics/cybersecurity-best-practices
Varonis (October 2024). "139 Cybersecurity Statistics and Trends [Updated 2025]." https://www.varonis.com/blog/cybersecurity-statistics
Verizon (2023, 2025). "Data Breach Investigations Report." Via Fortinet, Varonis, and Indusface.
World Economic Forum (2024, 2025). "Global Risks Report 2024" and "Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025." Via Fortinet and Keepnet.
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