5 Cybersecurity Threats to Know in 2025

As digital technologies become more important to the services we rely on daily, so does strong cybersecurity. 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. Unsurprisingly, then, cybersecurity is a growing field, with India’s cybersecurity industry anticipating compound annual growth of 13.31 percent from 2024 through 2028 [1] 

Explore some of the top threats cybersecurity professionals face in 2025 to understand the cybersecurity landscape better. Additionally, discover a few cost-effective, flexible courses you can take to gain job-relevant skills today. 

What is a threat in cybersecurity?

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

Common types of cybersecurity threats

Digital systems are integral to the daily operations of organisations and services worldwide. As a result, cybercriminals pose a serious threat to organisations that rely on these systems daily. 

The list below includes some threats you might help organisations protect themselves against as cybersecurity professional.  

1. Malware 

Malware is software used for a malicious purpose, such as to disrupt computer systems, grant unauthorised access to information, or remotely monitor another person’s online behaviour. 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 recognise as a threat when it appears. As a result, malware attacks are very common. Malware attacks were recorded approximately 5.5 billion times in 2022, according to Statista [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 users download it without realising its true intent.

• Adware: Adware displays or downloads advertising materials onto a user’s computer or mobile device. While some adware is used for legitimate marketing purposes, others are for malicious purposes, like spying on users or stealing their data. 

• Spyware: This malware installs itself onto computers and mobile devices to monitor users’ online behavior and gain sensitive information. Trojans and adware are two common ways spyware is downloaded 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. Approximately 64 percent of Indian organisations experienced a ransomware attack within the past year, according to data from Sophos 2024 Ransomware Report [3].

2. Phishing 

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

In a phishing attack, cybercriminals send emails, text messages, or social media posts containing malicious links to their victims, who unwittingly download malware. 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 becoming increasingly sophisticated. Scammers' increasingly common techniques include targeting victims using mobile devices, deploying well-crafted “zero-hour” malware or malicious URLs that are difficult to identify, and posing as trusted organisations like Microsoft, Google, or Amazon.  

How do you recognise a phishing attack? 

Because they pose as trusted individuals or organisations, phishing attacks can sometimes be difficult to recognise. Nonetheless, it’s helpful to look out for several tell-tale signs, such as messages containing generic greetings that are sent from a trusted acquaintance, unusual requests from an individual or organisation asking that you send them sensitive information, and too-good-to-be-true offers that require you to click on an included link. 

You can improve your protection from phishing attacks by using two-factor authentication and anti-malware software and backing up sensitive data on a secure platform, such as an encrypted portable hard drive. 

3. Man-in-the-middle (MitM) 

Man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks occur when a malicious actor inserts themselves 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 the user's log-in credentials. Afterward, attackers use the acquired credentials to log in to the real website, stealing further sensitive data or committing financial crimes like theft. 

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

• HTTPS spoofing: The attacker creates a fake website that resembles a real one, which they then use to collect user information. Criminals also used this 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 certificates for an HTTP site’s domain, which allows them to redirect users to a spoof site that collects their personal information or log-in credentials. 

4. Denial of Service (DoS)

A denial of service (DoS) attack is a type of cyberattack in which 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 organisation’s website for ransom, act as a smokescreen for other kinds of attacks, or act as a pretext for other real and online crimes. 

5. Injection attacks

During injection attacks, a malicious actor injects a query or code into a program to access sensitive data, remotely execute commands, or modify a system. To conduct an injection attack, cybercriminals exploit “injection flaws”, or vulnerabilities within a system that allows it to receive malware or malicious queries that attackers can use to gain unauthorised access. 

Cybercriminals may attempt several types of injection attacks. Some typical examples include: 

• Code injection: Bad actors inject code within an application, which is typically vulnerable due to improper data validation. 

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

• XML injection: Bad actors exploit vulnerabilities within extensible markup language (XML) that allows them to access unauthorised data. 

Start learning cybersecurity on Coursera

Cybersecurity professionals ensure that individuals and organisations are safe from the many threats posed by cybercriminals. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in cybersecurity or gaining a deeper understanding of the field, consider taking a flexible, cost-effective Professional Certificate through Coursera today. 

In Google’s Cybersecurity Professional Certificate, you’ll learn in-demand cybersecurity skills that can have you job-ready in less than six months. Over eight courses, you’ll gain hands-on experience with Python, Linux, and SQL and learn how to protect networks, devices, people, and data from unauthorised access and cyberattacks using Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) tools. In the end, you’ll even receive an official credential that you can highlight on your CV to indicate your knowledge and job-relevant skills to potential employers.