cyberattack

noun

cy·​ber·​at·​tack ˈsī-bər-ə-ˌtak How to pronounce cyberattack (audio)
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
If 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
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

Examples of cyberattack in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Google exited the Chinese market in 2010, after refusing to comply with censorship requests from the Chinese government and following a series of cyberattacks on the company. Huizhong Wu, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2025 These professionals simulate cyberattacks to identify vulnerabilities in systems. Marco Buscaglia, Boston Herald, 3 Feb. 2025 This feature limits certain device functionalities to prevent sophisticated cyberattacks. Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 1 Feb. 2025 The six-episode limited series, America is reeling following a cyberattack that leaves thousands dead. Abid Rahman, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for cyberattack 

Word History

First Known Use

1996, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cyberattack was in 1996

Dictionary Entries Near cyberattack

Cite this Entry

“Cyberattack.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cyberattack. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!