What are the types of cyber threats? An easy-to-understand guide

When leaders ask, “What are the types of cyber threats we should care about?”, the answer doesn’t need to take a 50-page report. It’s the ones that grind your business to a halt, steal data, or hijack accounts. Think of them as the digital versions of fire, flood, and burglary.

With sound cybersecurity in place, you’re never powerless. It tips the odds back in your favor by shrinking the attack surface and helping you recover quickly before the damage spreads.

What is a cyber attack? 

A cyber attack is a deliberate attempt to disrupt, disable, destroy, or take control of computing systems, or corrupt or steal data.² It can be as simple as a fake invoice email or as advanced as a malicious flaw buried in software.

What makes cyber attacks challenging is their variety and intent. The spectrum ranges from nuisance-level disruptions to nation-state operations. However, the common thread is that they exploit weaknesses, whether that’s in technology, processes, or human behavior.

Why does cybersecurity matter?

At the heart of cybersecurity is the CIA triad of confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Confidentiality keeps information private, integrity ensures data isn’t altered, and availability makes systems accessible when needed.³

Picture these as the three legs of a stool. If one leg breaks, the whole seat collapses, regardless of how sturdy the other two are. A cyber attack in practice is any strike that topples one of these supports; and the fallout is costly.

In the United States, it costs organizations $10.2 million on average to recover from a data breach. In South Africa, recovery costs average about $2.4 million per breach.⁴

How cyber attackers work

The front door to most cyber incidents is people, not code. Attackers lean on human behavior, which is why phishing and social engineering attacks are so common. Once inside, intruders escalate privileges, plant malicious code, or wait until the right time.

Most incidents follow a pattern:

• An attacker picks an entry path, like email
• They deploy a tactic, such as malware-laced attachment
• They chase impact, such as data exposure

Modern attackers even use AI to mimic voices or draft emails that feel authentic. Tools like ChatGPT are misused to generate convincing phishing emails, fake customer service chats, or fraudulent job postings. Attackers use these models to write error-free messages that bypass typical ‘bad grammar’ red flags.

This is what a cyber attack looks like in everyday life. Imagine a phishing scam:

1. An attacker picks the email entry path
2. They send a message that looks like it’s from your bank, warning of ‘suspicious activity’
3. You click the link, which leads to a fake login page
4. Once you enter your details, the attacker has your credentials
5. With access, they move quickly, transferring funds or using the account to launch further scams

What are the types of cyber threats you’re likely to encounter?

Most cyber attacks fall into six familiar categories.

Type of cyber threat	What is it?	Business impact	Key defense moves
Malware	Malicious software designed to disrupt or steal	Corrupted machines, downtime, stolen data	Keep systems patched, restrict unknown apps
Ransomware	Criminals lock or steal your data for payment	Operations frozen, reputational damage	Offline backups, MFA, incident rehearsals
Phishing	Deceptive messages tricking people to click or share info	Stolen credentials, unauthorized access	Layered email security, passkeys, staff training
Denial of service (DoS)	Flooding systems with traffic to knock them offline	Customers locked out, revenue loss	DDoS protection, traffic filtering, clear comms
Zero-day exploits	Attacks exploiting unknown software flaws	Sudden breaches with no patch available	Intrusion detection, least privilege, fast response
Account takeover (ATO)	Criminals hijack user accounts with stolen credentials	Fraud losses, chargebacks, customer trust hit	MFA, credential monitoring, adaptive risk checks

1. Malware

Malware (short for “malicious software”) is any software designed to harm, disrupt, or spy.⁵

• Classic viruses spread from machine to machine
• Trojans disguise themselves as harmless files
• Spyware lurks in the background to log keystrokes or send back sensitive information

Modern malware strains can spread faster than IT teams can contain them, leading to corrupted machines, stolen credentials, and entire departments idled for days.

Preventing malware starts with healthy security habits in the organization. Security teams should patch software regularly and staff must be trained to treat unknown attachments with caution.

2. Ransomware

Ransomware locks your files or entire systems, then demands payment for release. Attackers now also add a cruel twist known as double extortion, where they threaten to leak your data if you refuse to pay.⁶

When ransomware is used against businesses, reputations can suffer and decision-makers face the agonizing choice between paying criminals or rebuilding systems from scratch.

Defense usually comes down to building resilience. Companies can:

• Keep offline backups so attackers can’t touch them
• Divide networks into smaller sections to limit damage
• Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) to make stolen passwords useless
• Run practice scenarios, so staff know their roles when a ransomware attack hits

3. Phishing

Phishing (or ‘smishing’ when done via text message) is the art of digital deception where attackers craft messages that look genuine in an effort to steal sensitive information. This could look like an urgent note from the CEO, a bank alert, or even a QR code promising a delivery update.⁷

In March 2025, the FBI flagged a smishing scam where attackers pose as E-ZPass, texting drivers about ‘overdue tolls.’ The messages include a fake payment link that takes targets to a spoofed site designed to steal banking credentials and personal information.⁸

It’s the most common method: 16% of all cyber attacks against organizations are phishing, according to IBM.⁹

To defend against phishing, companies can:

• Invest in layered email filters
• Adopt passkeys
• Provide role-based training

4. Denial-of-service (DoS)

A denial-of-service attack overwhelms a system with more requests than it can handle, like prank callers tying up every phone line in an office. When scaled across thousands of hijacked machines, it becomes a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack.¹⁰

To customers, the site appears broken, which can erode trust overnight.

Mitigation relies on tools that spread out the heavy traffic so no single system gets overwhelmed. For example, companies might:

•  Use networks of servers around the world to share the load
• Set up filters to block suspicious traffic
• Build clear communication plans to keep customers know what’s happening

5. Zero-day exploits

Zero-day exploits target vulnerabilities unknown or unaddressed security flaws, leaving defenders blind until the first attack is detected. The name “zero-day” comes from the fact that there are zero days to fix the problem because malicious actors are already using it.¹¹

For decision-makers, installing software updates is dangerously insufficient, as attackers can strike before patches even exist. That’s why organizations add extra layers of defense, such as:

•  Tools that watch for unusual activity
• Limits on who can access what
• Teams trained to respond quickly if something suspicious appears

6. Account takeover (ATO)

In an account takeover, criminals obtain or guess login credentials to take control of financial, social media, and email accounts. Once inside, they can drain bank accounts, reroute deliveries, or siphon loyalty points.¹²

The most effective protection against ATO is making stolen passwords worthless. Companies do this by:

•  Adding extra login steps like a code sent to your phone
• Setting up rules that flag suspicious behavior
• Linking accounts to trusted devices
• Scanning the internet for stolen credentials so they can act quickly if customer details are exposed.

What does good cybersecurity look like?

Strong cybersecurity policies are part of a long-term strategy that strengthens over time. Instead of wrapping a business in steel walls, leaders should focus on creating shock absorbers that minimize impact when bad actors slip through.

People: 

Role-based training can help apply practical cybersecurity steps to different teams facing a variety of risks.¹³ For example, finance staff might see fake invoice emails, while IT teams could be tricked with technical-looking requests.

Companies also run short practice drills across departments, like test phishing emails, so spotting scams becomes second nature.

Process:

Clear, lightweight playbooks for common scenarios can be critical. For example, a ransomware response guide should outline who makes the call on shutting down systems, who contacts law enforcement, and who handles press inquiries.¹⁴

Other processes can be integrated into how an organization runs their website. Rate limiting helps defend against denial-of-service attacks by capping the number of requests a single user or system can make.¹⁵

Technology:

Technical controls don’t need to be flashy to be effective. Multi-factor authentication, passkeys, and regular backups can instantly remove the low-hanging fruit that attackers rely on. More advanced tools, like endpoint detection and web application firewalls can act like digital security guards.¹⁶

Culture:

A culture of security means staff feel safe to report mistakes without fear of punishment. It also means leadership treats cybersecurity as part of business continuity, rather than just an IT expense line.

Education is just as critical as technology. Continuous learning helps staff recognize threats and respond effectively. Organizations can consider short, practical online cybersecurity courses to build skills across all levels, from foundational awareness to advanced risk management.

Frequently asked questions

What is ransomware in cybersecurity?

Ransomware is a type of malicious software that locks your files or systems and demands payment, often in cryptocurrency, to release them. Beyond locking data, some ransomware gangs also threaten to leak sensitive information if businesses refuse.

What are the most common types of cyber threats?

The most common cyber threats fall into six main groups: malware, ransomware, phishing, denial of service, zero-day exploits, and account takeover attacks. Each works differently but targets the same goals: disrupting operations, stealing data, or hijacking accounts.

What are the differences between malware and ransomware?

Malware is a broad term for any harmful software, like viruses, spyware, or trojans. It’s the umbrella under which ransomware sits. Ransomware is a specific type of malware with a clear objective of locking or stealing data to demand payment.

How do cyber threats impact businesses?

Cyber threats hit businesses in multiple ways. They can cause outages and halt sales, leak customer data to damage trust, or trigger regulatory fines. A single breach can also force costly system rebuilds or ransom payments. Beyond money, the reputational damage lingers as clients may hesitate to return if they doubt your security. For smaller companies, the impact can be difficult to recover from without a strong security baseline.

How can individuals protect themselves against cyber threats?

Individuals can reduce risk with a few simple habits:

• Use strong, unique passwords paired with multi-factor authentication so stolen logins are useless.
• Keep software updated to close security gaps.
• Treat unexpected links or attachments with caution, especially in emails or texts.
• Back up important files so ransomware can’t trap you.
• Stay alert. Pausing for a moment before clicking can be the best defense against attackers’ tricks.