Cyberattacks during War: How It Happens and How to Stay Protected

War has changed. These days, it’s not just soldiers and machines on the battlefield. There’s another front that’s growing quietly but dangerously in the background: the digital world.

Cyberattacks have become a key part of how conflicts are fought. They don’t make loud noises or leave behind rubble, but they can shut down entire communication networks, steal sensitive data, cripple hospitals or banks, and throw everyday life into chaos all from behind a screen.

As tensions build between countries, cyber warfare becomes a go-to tool. We’ve seen power outages, financial systems disrupted, and public trust shaken, not by bombs, but by keystrokes. These digital offensives are proving just as destructive and in many cases, much harder to detect.

Social Media: The New Frontline

One of the biggest changes in modern conflict is how much of it now plays out on social media. Platforms like Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), WhatsApp, and YouTube have turned into digital battlegrounds where propaganda spreads like wildfire.

In the middle of a conflict, it doesn’t take long for fake news, edited videos, or emotional misinformation to flood people’s feeds. One convincing post can reach millions within minutes, stirring panic or anger before anyone even realizes it’s not true.

A study from MIT in 2023 showed just how serious this is: false information travels about 70% faster on social media than the truth. That’s a major issue in times of war, where trust and clear communication are already fragile.

We’ve seen deepfakes showing fake surrender speeches, false alerts sent to civilians, and manipulated photos designed to stoke fear. These tactics aren’t just background noise—they’ve become part of the main strategy.

How Cyberattacks Unfold During War

Cyberattacks during times of conflict usually aim to weaken the enemy without confrontation. Here are some common wartime goals:

1. Shutting Down Critical Infrastructure

The first target in many cyber offensives is a nation’s essential services: electricity, water, transport, and hospitals. For example, without a single bomb being dropped, thousands of lives could be in danger due to a power grid shutdown in the dead of winter. The devastating reminder of digital vulnerability was provided by a cyberattack on an Eastern European power infrastructure in 2015 that left hundreds of thousands without electricity.

2. Disrupting Military and Government Systems

Cyber warriors often target defense and intelligence networks to intercept strategies, disable surveillance tools, or even spoof commands. Disabling satellite links or corrupting military databases can cripple a country’s ability to respond.

3. Spreading Misinformation and Panic

Information warfare is real and dangerous. During conflict, social media is flooded with fake reports about bombings, food shortages, or fake government announcements. In 2022, a fake video of a national leader “surrendering” spread briefly before being debunked, but it showed how misinformation can cause confusion or even momentary loss of morale.

4. Financial Sabotage

Banking systems and payment networks are also targets. A cyberattack can freeze bank accounts, halt online payments, or cause stock markets to crash, all of which weaken a nation’s economy and its ability to fund defense efforts.

5. Espionage and Surveillance

Digital spying intensifies during war. Hackers may track government officials, access confidential military communications, or leak sensitive documents. Cyber tools can even track troop locations using mobile metadata, fitness apps, or email activity.

Types of Cyberattacks Used During Conflict

Wartime cyberattacks can take many forms. Some of the most common include:

• DDoS (Distributed Denial-of-Service) Attacks: Flooding websites or networks with traffic to make them unavailable.

• Phishing Attacks: Sending fake emails to trick users into revealing login credentials or installing malware.

• Ransomware: Locking critical systems and demanding payment to restore access.

• Malware and Viruses: Infecting systems to spy, destroy files, or create backdoors for further intrusion.

• Zero-Day Exploits: Taking advantage of unknown software flaws before developers can fix them.

Real-World Examples

Cyber elements have been a part of several international confrontations in the past ten years. In certain cases, military records were leaked, hospitals were locked out of their data, and power grids were thrown offline in subfreezing temperatures. Although these attacks are frequently unofficially credited, they exhibit a distinct pattern: cyberwarfare is now a daily reality rather than a hypothetical danger.

Who Is at Risk?

Cyberattacks during wartime don’t only target governments or militaries. Civilians are often affected directly or indirectly. Here’s who faces the most risk:

• Government agencies and officials

• Healthcare and emergency services

• Financial institutions

• Telecommunication companies

• Media organizations

• Ordinary citizens (especially through misinformation or identity theft)

How to Stay Protected from Cyberattacks During War

Although defending against sophisticated cyberattacks requires national-level infrastructure and investment. Several protective steps can be taken on both the organizational and individual levels.

For Governments and Institutions

1. Strengthen Cybersecurity Infrastructure

Like physical defense, cyber defense should be a top priority for governments. This entails employing qualified cybersecurity specialists, putting in place robust firewalls, encryption, and real-time threat detection systems.

2. Regularly Update and Patch Systems

Outdated systems are more vulnerable. Applying software updates and security patches can close known loopholes that hackers often exploit.

3. Invest in Cyber Intelligence and Monitoring

Just as physical intelligence is used to predict enemy movements, cyber intelligence can detect planned attacks before they happen. AI-powered monitoring tools can help flag unusual activities in real-time.

4. Conduct Simulated Cyber Drills

Testing response strategies during a simulated attack can prepare teams for real scenarios and expose weaknesses in the system.

5. Secure Critical Infrastructure with Isolated Systems

Power grids, water plants, and medical systems should use segmented networks and redundant offline backups to minimize the impact of breaches.

For Businesses

1. Back Up Data Regularly

Keeping frequent backups, especially offline copies, can reduce damage from ransomware or data loss.

2. Train Employees on Cyber Hygiene

Most breaches start with human error. Employees should be trained to spot phishing attempts, avoid suspicious downloads, and use strong passwords.

3. Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

MFA adds a second layer of security to login processes, making it harder for attackers to gain access even if they have stolen a password.

4. Monitor Systems for Unusual Activity

Set up alerts for unauthorized access attempts, data transfers, or software changes to catch breaches early.

For Individuals

1. Be Cautious with Information

Don’t trust everything you see online during wartime. Verify news from official sources and avoid clicking unknown links.

2. Use Secure Devices and Connections

Install antivirus software, use encrypted messaging apps, and avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive communication.

3. Protect Personal Accounts

Use strong, unique passwords and enable MFA wherever possible.

4. Stay Informed

Keep up with official advisories from cybersecurity agencies. Being informed helps you react quickly if threats arise.

Final Thoughts

Wartime cyberattacks are not a thing of science fiction; they are occurring at the moment. The digital realm is just as much of a battlefield as the real one, whether it is shutting off city lights or inciting terror with misleading information.

The good news? People and organizations can lower their risk via knowledge, instruction, and astute defensive tactics. Digital combat may be the way of the future, but that doesn’t mean we have to be helpless.

No matter what dangers arise in the future, we can better safeguard our systems, economies, and citizens by being prepared today.