The Cyber Threat Landscape in 2025: What We Learned and What 2026 May Bring

1. Identity Is Still the Front Door

Credential theft, phishing, and multi-factor authentication bypass techniques remained dominant. Adversary-in-the-middle phishing kits became more polished and targeted. Password spraying continued to succeed when basic hygiene failed. QR code lures and fake collaboration invites blended seamlessly into normal business workflows.

Rather than trying to “break in,” many actors simply logged in.

Researchers, government staff, diplomats, and policy organizations were especially targeted. The goal wasn’t always immediate disruption. In many cases, it was quiet, persistent access to email and internal communications.

Takeaway: Identity protection is no longer optional infrastructure. It is the security perimeter.

2. Zero-Days Are Strategic, Not Random

Selective zero-day exploitation appeared throughout the year, often aimed at high-value government or regional targets. These vulnerabilities were not sprayed broadly at first. They were used carefully, sometimes before patches existed, against organizations with geopolitical significance.

In parallel, previously disclosed vulnerabilities were aggressively reused, especially when organizations delayed patching internet-facing systems.

Attackers clearly understand the economics:

• Zero-days are expensive and targeted.
• N-days remain highly effective at scale.

Takeaway: Patch speed and external exposure management directly influence whether an organization becomes an easy or high-value target.

3. Living-Off-the-Land Is the Default

One of the most consistent patterns across campaigns was the use of legitimate system tools:

• Built-in Windows binaries
• Remote administration utilities
• Cloud hosting services
• Enterprise collaboration platforms
• File-sharing infrastructure

Rather than deploying noisy custom malware immediately, attackers often used what was already present. In some cases, command and control traffic flowed through email protocols or reputable cloud providers. This dramatically lowers detection rates.

The result is fewer obvious red flags and more subtle abuse of trusted pathways.

Takeaway: Behavioral detection and context matter more than simple signature-based blocking.

4. Cloud and Supply Chain Are Prime Targets

Cloud storage, SaaS platforms, and managed service providers saw increased attention. Attackers leveraged legitimate cloud hosting for payload delivery and command infrastructure. In some cases, compromises at service providers created downstream exposure for multiple organizations.

As organizations centralize operations into fewer platforms, the blast radius of compromise increases.

Takeaway: Security visibility must extend beyond endpoints into cloud workloads, SaaS identity flows, and third-party integrations.

5. Information Operations and Cyber Operations Are Blending

In Europe and parts of the Middle East, campaigns combined technical intrusion with influence and disinformation. Election cycles, regional conflicts, and diplomatic tensions were accompanied by phishing waves, fake documents, propaganda infrastructure, and destructive malware.

Disruption, espionage, and influence are no longer clearly separate activities. They overlap.

Takeaway: Security teams must coordinate with communications, legal, and leadership teams when incidents intersect with political narratives.

6. Destructive Attacks Remain Tactically Relevant

Wipers and politically motivated ransomware campaigns continued in conflict zones. These operations were sometimes opportunistic, sometimes strategic, but often designed to create disruption and psychological impact rather than financial gain.

In active conflicts, attackers also targeted unconventional infrastructure, such as internet-connected cameras, to support real-world situational awareness.

Takeaway: Operational technology and peripheral devices are increasingly part of the threat model.

7. Novelty Comes From Combination, Not Reinvention

Many campaigns reused known malware families, delivery chains, and infrastructure patterns. The difference was in how they were layered together:

• Phishing combined with cloud hosting and remote management tools.
• DLL side-loading paired with legitimate signed binaries.
• Compromised accounts used to send highly credible lures.
• Email-based command and control to hide in normal traffic.

Attackers are iterating faster. They test, refine, and redeploy. Innovation is incremental but effective.

What to Expect in 2026

Based on 2025 patterns, here are realistic projections for the coming year.

1. More MFA Bypass, Not Less

As more organizations adopt multi-factor authentication, adversaries will continue refining methods to circumvent it. AiTM kits will likely become easier to customize and harder to detect. Expect more session hijacking and token theft.

2. Increased Targeting of Edge and SaaS Platforms

Internet-facing collaboration tools, identity providers, and cloud services will remain attractive targets. Exploiting a single widely deployed platform can provide disproportionate access.

3. AI-Enhanced Social Engineering

While phishing was already sophisticated in 2025, generative AI will further improve lure personalization. Expect highly tailored messages referencing real events, internal terminology, and believable personas.

4. More Supply Chain and MSP Pressure

Managed service providers and IT supply chains are efficient access points. Threat actors will continue to test security boundaries around vendors that support multiple customers.

5. Greater Blending of Cybercrime and State Interests

Financially motivated groups and state-aligned actors increasingly share infrastructure patterns, tools, and techniques. Attribution will become harder as lines blur between espionage, sabotage, and profit.

6. Expansion Into Peripheral Infrastructure

Internet-connected cameras, IoT devices, and remote management interfaces will see more exploitation in both geopolitical and criminal contexts.

7. Operational Discipline Will Increase

Actors are becoming more careful about infrastructure exposure, command channel authentication, and detection evasion. Expect more encrypted C2, dynamic infrastructure rotation, and compartmentalized operations.

Defensive Priorities for 2026

Organizations preparing for the next year should focus on:

• Strengthening identity monitoring and session anomaly detection.
• Reducing internet-exposed attack surface.
• Accelerating patch management for edge services.
• Expanding visibility into SaaS and cloud activity.
• Monitoring for living-off-the-land behaviors.
• Building cross-functional incident response plans.

Security posture in 2026 will depend less on buying new tools and more on improving visibility, speed, and coordination.