16 Hacking Industry Statistics in 2025
Posts by Kelly IndahOctober 26, 2023
Cyberattacks are rapidly becoming more common, and the cost of these hack attacks is skyrocketing.
We have researched and gathered some interesting hacking industry statistics for 2025 to encourage awareness among our readers.
In 2021, the global cost of cybercrime was estimated to be $6.9 billion.
This number is expected to grow to $10.5 trillion by 2025.
There are many factors that contribute to the expanding threat of cyberattacks.
One factor is the increasing sophistication of hackers.
Hackers are now using increasingly sophisticated techniques, such as ransomware and phishing attacks, to target businesses and individuals.
Another factor that is contributing to the growing threat of cyberattacks is the increasing number of connected devices.
There are now billions of connected devices in the world, and these devices are often not properly secured.
This makes them easy targets for hackers.
The growing threat of cyberattacks is a severe problem that businesses and individuals need to be aware of.
There are several things that can be done to protect against cyberattacks, such as using strong passwords, installing security software, and being careful about what information is shared online.
Key Statistics
- A hacking event occurs every 39 seconds on average.
- 95% of cyberattacks are due to human error.
- Cybercrime cost people in the United States an estimated $6.9 billion in 2021.
- 30,000 websites get hacked each day across the globe.
- 43% of cyber-attacks target small businesses.
- Only 5% of company folders and files are properly protected.
- 70% of businesses will experience a data breach in the next year.
- In 2020, the average cost of a data breach is $3.86 million.
- The average cost of a data breach for a small business is $125,000.
- In 2021, the average cost of a data breach for a medium-sized business was $1.2 million.
Top Hacking Industry Statistics in 2025
1. A Hacking Event Occurs Every 39 Seconds on Average.
University studies have shown that hackers are constantly lurking around to find someone to hack for nefarious purposes.
In fact, a hacking event occurs every 39 seconds, according to these studies, which affects at least one in three Americans per year.
(UNG)
2. 95% of Cyberattacks Are Due to Human Error.
According to research, 95% of all cybersecurity breaches can be traced back to some kind of human error.
One study from the World Economic Forum revealed that organizations are run today where most issues involving hacking and other cybercrimes are due to human error.
Insider threats account for 43% of all cyber breaches.
(Cybernews, World Economic Forum)
3. Cybercrime Cost People in The United States an Estimated $6.9 Billion in 2021.
Based on an annual Internet Crime Report published by the FBI in 2021, cybercrimes cost people over $6.9 billion.
That figure was $2 billion less in 2020, which tells us that hackers with cybercrime intentions are on the rise.
(CNET)
4. 30,000 Websites Get Hacked Each Day Across the Globe.
IBM shared data from Forbes that shows how many websites get hacked each day.
The report said that on average 30,000 new global websites get hacked per day.
This data includes websites from all over the world.
Many times, these hacks occur due to the lack of security or other protocols used to protect sites from getting hacked.
(IBM)
5. 43% of Cyber-Attacks Target Small Businesses.
Data shows that 43% of hacking attempts target small businesses.
This data comes from the 2016 Symantec Internet Security Threat Report.
It shows that hackers have increasingly targeted small businesses over the past several years.
In 2011, 18% of small businesses were the target of hackers.
In only four years, that figure jumped to 43%. Small businesses are often left vulnerable to such attacks due to budgetary concerns.
(Small Biz Trends)
6. only 5% of Company Folders and Files Are Properly Protected.
On average, only about 5% of a company’s files and folders have proper protection against hackers.
Imagine hackers knowing this and how well they know they can get away with their cybercrimes with this kind of information in their hands.
Hopefully, this will help raise awareness among business owners and encourage them to make sure their systems are properly protected.
(Hyno)
7. 70% of Businesses Will Experience a Data Breach in The Next Year.
Statistically, around 70% of small businesses will experience some form of data breach within the next year.
Sadly, most of these small businesses must close their doors due to hackers who breach their systems.
It costs too much for these businesses to recover like big corporations can.
(TrueList)
8. In 2020, The Average Cost of A Data Breach Is $3.86 Million.
According to the 2022 IBM Security Data Breach Report, the average cost of a data breach is up to $4.35 million (USD).
That represents a 12.7% increase from the 2020 report.
For reference, the 2021 report showed that the average cost of a data breach accounted for $4.24 million.
Therefore, we can gather that the costs of data breaches caused by hackers are going up.
(IBM Security Report 2022)
9. The Average Cost of A Data Breach for A Small Business Is $125,000.
We know that the costs of data breaches for corporations and large companies is over $4 million (USD), but for a small business, the average cost is $125,000.
There are reports that state that small business data breaches can range in costs from $120,000 to over $1.2 million.
(Business.com)
10. In 2021, The Average Cost of A Data Breach for A Medium-Sized Business Was $1.2 Million.
Business size usually determines the cost of a data breach.
IBM’s 202 Security Report states that the average cost of a data breach in medium-sized organizations is $1.2 million (USD) in 2021.
However, that figure for 2022 comes to 1.44 million.
(IBM Security Report 2022)
11. As of 2022, The Average Time to Detect a Data Breach Is 207 Days.
The lifecycle of a data breach is important to know.
For instance, in 2022, the average time it took for a company to identify a hacking breach was 207 days.
Containing it can take an average of 70 days. That’s 277 days of downtime for a business.
However, in 2021, it took an average of 212 days to find a data breach and 75 days to get it contained.
Therefore, this figure seems to be decreasing.
(UpGuard)
12. In 2022, The Root Cause of 61% of All Data Breaches Was Found to Be from Phishing Attacks.
In total, the APWG (Anti-Phishing Working Group) discovered that in the Q3 of 2022, there were 3 million phishing attacks, which was the worst ever seen by the group.
Phishing attacks are mostly delivered via email or messaging, and it’s designed to get you to reveal your personal identifiable information like passwords or credit card numbers.
(TechTarget, Verizon)
13. 80% of American Nationwide and State Hacking Attacks Targeted Government Organizations, Non-Government Institutions, and Think Tanks.
Statistics from Microsoft revealed that in 2021, 80% of all hacking attacks targeted think tanks, and government and non-government organizations.
Government entities took the brunt with 48% of that share, while NGOs and think tanks experienced 31%.
(Microsoft Security)
14. 58% of All Cyberattacks Against the United States Came from Russia.
Microsoft reported that 58% of all the cyberattacks that targeted the United States came from hackers in Russia.
The report also stated that hackers from Russia have become more effective with an increase of 21% more successful attempts over the past year.
(Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2021)
15. Data Reveals that 40% of All Cyberthreats Are Happening via The Supply Chain.
In 2022, the world saw a rise of hacking attacks through the global supply chains.
As the supply chains become more connected, more dependent on technology, and sophisticated, the risk of hackers conducting cybercrimes grows.
Moreover, the risk of inflicting disastrous consequences is also high.
(Security Intelligence)
16. An Average of 2,200 Cyber Incidents Occurs per Day.
Since we know the statistics show us that cyberattacks occur every 39 seconds, we can also understand how they come to the figure of 2,200 cyberattacks per day.
Consequently, that represents more than 800,000 hacking events per year.
We can safely assume that hacking attempts (successful or not) are on the rise.
(Cobalt)
FAQs
What Are the Most Common Types of Cyberattacks?
The most common types of cyberattacks include:
• Phishing attacks: Phishing attacks are emails that appear to be from a legitimate sender, such as a bank or credit card company.
Phishing emails usually have a link in them or attached to them that will direct the user to a fake site that effectively mimics the real site.
Once the victim enters their personal information on the fake website, the hacker can steal it.
• Ransomware attacks: Ransomware attacks are attacks that encrypt a victim’s files and demand a ransom payment to decrypt them.
• Data breaches: Data breaches are attacks that steal sensitive data, such as credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, and passwords.
How Can I Protect My Business from Cyberattacks?
There are a number of things that businesses can do to protect themselves from cyberattacks, such as:
• Use strong passwords: Strong passwords should be at least 12 characters long and include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Install security software: Security software can help to protect against malware and other threats.
• Be careful about what information is shared online: Businesses should be careful about what information they share online, such as customer data and financial information.
• Train employees: Employees should be trained in how to identify and avoid cyberattacks.
How Can I Protect Myself from Cyberattacks?
There are a number of things that individuals can do to protect themselves from cyberattacks, such as:
• Use strong passwords: Strong passwords should be at least 12 characters long and include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Install security software: Security software can help to protect against malware and other threats.
• Be careful about what information is shared online: Individuals should be careful about what information they share online, such as their Social Security number and credit card number.
• Be careful about what emails are opened: Individuals should be careful about what emails they open, especially emails from unknown senders.
• Never click on links in emails from unknown senders: Links in emails from unknown senders may lead to malicious websites that can steal personal information.
What Are the Consequences of A Cyberattack?
The consequences of a cyberattack can be significant, and they can vary depending on the type of attack and the target.
Some of the most common consequences of cyberattacks include:
• Data loss: Data loss can lead to financial losses, productivity losses, and reputational damage.
• Financial losses: Financial losses can occur because of data breaches, ransomware attacks, and other types of cyberattacks.
• Productivity losses: Productivity losses can occur as a result of data breaches, ransomware attacks, and other types of cyberattacks.
• Reputational damage: Reputational damage can occur because of data breaches, ransomware attacks, and other types of cyberattacks.
What Are the Largest Data Breaches from 2022?
In 2022, there is a large list of successful cyberattacks perpetrated by hackers.
Let’s see the brief list of the top five.
1. November 16, 2022: 487 billion WhatsApp users compromised.
2. October 13, 2021: Medibank in Australia suffered a data leak exposing 97 million users’ data.
3. October 12, 2022: The Biden Cash carding marketplace released data about 1.2 million credit cards.
4. September 22, 2022: Optus in Australia experienced a disastrous breach resulting in the data breach of 11 million customers.
5. July 2022 – January 2023: An alleged data breach that impacted millions of Twitter users across Europe and the United States that has yet to be confirmed or reported.
What Is the Future of Cyberattacks?
The future of cyberattacks is likely to be characterized by increasing sophistication and frequency.
Hackers are constantly developing new techniques and technologies to exploit vulnerabilities in systems and networks.
As a result, businesses and individuals need to be constantly vigilant and take steps to protect themselves from cyberattacks.
Conclusion
The threat of cyberattacks is a genuine problem that businesses and individuals need to be aware of.
There are several things that can be done to protect against cyberattacks, such as using strong passwords, installing security software, and being careful about what information is shared online.
Today, you have read some of the most vital data about hacking cyber-attacks, hackers, and other related data about hacking.
The goal is to raise awareness about this form of cyberattack and to give you the edge on how to protect yourself.
We hope you have learned some interesting and helpful things about these hacking industry statistics in 2025.