5 Cybersecurity Threats to Know in 2026

Key takeaways

• Common cybersecurity threats include malware, phishing, man-in-the-middle attacks, denial-of-service attacks, and injection attacks.

• Insider threats in cybersecurity come from within the organization, often by accident, and sometimes from a disgruntled employee.

• Cybersecurity professionals, such as information technology (IT) security analysts, work to manage cybersecurity threats and solutions.

Knowledge of cyberthreats and security protocols is important for preventing attacks, as well as effectively responding when they do occur. Learn more about cybersecurity threats and how you can help keep your organization's information secure.

If you’re ready to get started in cybersecurity right away, earn a Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate to gain in-demand skills in areas such as threat detection, incident response, vulnerability management, debugging, and more.

What are cybersecurity threats and solutions?

In cybersecurity, a threat is an action that has the potential to negatively impact an organization’s operations, procedures, systems, or data. Bad actors, such as hackers and scammers, exploit vulnerabilities in digital security systems to obtain information, disrupt operations, and commit crimes such as fraud and identity theft.

Modern cybersecurity threats feature a greater level of complexity than those of the past. As digital technologies become increasingly crucial to the services we rely on every day, the value of cybersecurity that actively protects organizations against cyberattacks grows as well. But knowing the importance of these systems, cybercriminals seek to undermine them to gain valuable data and sensitive information to commit crimes that can be as lucrative as they are damaging.

Cybersecurity professionals, such as IT security specialists, security administrators, and computer forensic analysts, help implement solutions against cyberthreats using access control and continuous monitoring techniques, as well as detection and response procedures to mitigate damage from an attack. However, individuals can contribute to the security of their organizations' systems and information as well by implementing practices like backing up data, keeping their passwords protected, ensuring software is up to date, and following organizational cybersecurity policies.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the number of jobs for information security analysts, the category under which many cybersecurity positions fall, is projected to grow by 21 percent between 2025 and 2035 [1]. That’s significantly higher than the 3 percent average growth the BLS projects for all jobs in the country during the same period [1].

Where do cyberattacks come from?

Cyberattacks are typically classified as arising from either "outsider threats" or "insider threats." Outsider threats come from people who don’t have legitimate access to the network or devices they attack, such as individual hackers or criminal organizations. Cyberattacks from criminal organizations typically do so in pursuit of money through ransomware and phishing attacks, where they can access sensitive information, such as credit card details.

Insider threats in cybersecurity, however, include people such as employees or suppliers who go beyond their authorized access. This isn’t always done intentionally. Sometimes these cyberthreats result from accidental errors, such as falling for a malware attack or simply losing possession of your work phone.

What are the most common types of cybersecurity threats?

Malware, phishing, man-in-the-middle attacks, denial-of-service, and injection attacks are among the common types of threats targeting digital systems integral to the daily operations of organizations and services worldwide. As a result, cybercriminals pose a serious threat to organizations that rely on these systems daily.

Cyberattacks present a unique opportunity for criminals as they’re inexpensive to implement, while presenting an opportunity for significant financial gain. Other common motivations behind these attacks include seeking business intelligence, a disgruntled former or current employee looking to harm an organization, or political reasons through state-sponsored attacks.

Take a closer look at each of these five threats.

1. Malware

Malware is software used for malicious purposes, such as disrupting computer systems, granting unauthorized access to information, or remotely monitoring another person’s online behavior. Short for “malicious software,” malware is typically downloaded onto a computer or mobile device by posing as a harmless file or link that can be difficult to recognize as a threat when it appears. As a result, malware attacks are prevalent. In fact, Microsoft reported an average of 4.5 million net new malware file blocks daily in 2025 [2].

Malware is an umbrella term that includes many different types of software used for various malicious reasons. Some common types of malware include:

• Trojans: This malware, also called a Trojan horse virus, impersonates a legitimate application so that you download it without realizing its true intent.

• Adware: Adware displays or downloads advertising materials onto a computer or mobile device. While some adware is legitimate for marketing purposes, bad actors use it for malicious purposes, such as spying or stealing data.

• Spyware: This malware installs itself onto computers and mobile devices to monitor your online behavior and gain sensitive information. Trojans and adware are two common ways you might download spyware on a computer.

• Ransomware: This malware encrypts files on a device, effectively making it unusable without decryption. Bad actors then demand a ransom to decrypt the device.

2. Phishing

Phishing is a common cyberattack in which a bad actor attempts to trick you into either downloading malware or revealing sensitive information by posing as a legitimate person or organization, such as a friend, co-worker, or bank.

In a phishing attack, cybercriminals send emails, text messages, or social media posts containing malicious links that their victims unwittingly click, resulting in malware downloads. Scammers often use phishing attacks to gain credit card numbers, bank account information, or Social Security numbers to commit financial crimes or identity theft.

Phishing attacks are on the rise and getting more sophisticated. According to Statista, the number of phishing attacks reached 853,244 worldwide during the fourth quarter of 2025 alone [3]. Increasingly common techniques scammers use in phishing attacks include targeting victims on mobile devices, deploying well-crafted “zero-hour” malware or malicious URLs that are difficult to detect, and posing as trusted organizations such as Microsoft, Google, or Amazon.

How do you recognize a phishing attack?

Phishing attacks can be challenging to recognize because they impersonate trusted individuals or organizations. Nonetheless, some telltale signs to look out for include messages containing generic greetings from a trusted acquaintance, unusual requests from an individual or organization asking you to send them sensitive information, and too-good-to-be-true offers that require you to click a link.

Using two-factor authentication can improve your protection from phishing attacks. Using anti-malware software and backing up sensitive data to a secure platform, such as an encrypted portable hard drive, can also help. Additionally, you can use artificial intelligence (AI) models for detecting anomalies, such as unusual login activity and suspicious behavior on your network, to help recognize potential attacks early on.

3. Man-in-the-middle (MITM)

MITM attacks occur when a malicious actor intervenes between two parties who believe they’re communicating with one another but are actually communicating with the attacker.

Also called “machine-in-the-middle” and “on-path” attacks, man-in-the-middle attacks usually involve a cybercriminal first detecting insecure traffic and then sending network users to spoof websites, which they use to collect login credentials. Afterward, attackers use the acquired credentials to log in to the actual website, stealing additional sensitive data or committing financial crimes such as theft.

Common methods used by cybercriminals in man-in-the-middle attacks include:

• HTTPS spoofing: The attacker creates a fake website that resembles a legitimate one and uses it to collect your information. Attackers can also use this technique for phishing attacks.

• IP spoofing: The attacker creates an internet protocol (IP) packet with a modified source address, which allows them to conceal their identity and impersonate another system.

• SSL hijacking: The attacker creates fake secure socket layer (SSL) certificates for a website, which allows them to redirect you to a spoof site that collects your personal information or login credentials.

4. Denial-of-service (DoS)

In a denial-of-service (DoS) attack, a malicious actor seeks to overload a website or system so it cannot function properly. Typically, DoS attacks work by flooding websites and network servers with fraudulent traffic requests, which results in the site being unable to render its services to legitimate visitors. Common targets of DoS attacks include email servers, websites, and banking accounts.

DoS attacks that result from the actions of more than one computer are called distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. Cybercriminals often use DoS and DDoS attacks to hold an organization’s website hostage for ransom, act as a smoke screen for other kinds of attacks, or act as a pretext for other real and online crimes.

5. Injection attacks

During injection attacks, cybercriminals inject a query or code into a program, enabling them to access sensitive data, remotely execute commands, or modify a system. They also exploit “injection flaws,” or vulnerabilities within a system, that allow it to receive malware or malicious queries that attackers can use to gain unauthorized access.

Some of the most common types of injection attacks include:

• Code injection: Bad actors inject code into an application, typically through vulnerabilities caused by improper data validation.

• SQL injection: Malicious actors exploit structured query language (SQL) to inject commands that can read data stored within the system.

• XML injection: Bad actors exploit vulnerabilities in the extensible markup language (XML) to access unauthorized data.

Read more: 7 Cybersecurity Trends to Know

Explore our free cybersecurity resources

Subscribe to our weekly LinkedIn newsletter, Career Chat, for updates on popular skills, tools, certifications, and more. Then, check out some of our other free resources to keep learning more about cybersecurity:

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• Read an insider story: Meet the IT Support Tech Advancing Toward a Cybersecurity Career

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