Top 5 Cyberwarfare Threats for 2025

In the civilian sector, discussions about cyber-related trends almost always center on security—hacks, leaks, and breaches. The topic likely segways immediately into cybersecurity, which, while an increasingly important topic, is centered all around playing defense - preventing and protecting the figurative “ball”. While defense is undeniably vital, it’s only part of the equation.

I learned this lesson early on—not in the tech world, but on the basketball court. As a point guard, I was the shortest, fastest, and, according to my competitors, the “meanest” player on the court (I knew how to use elbows). Because I was so small in stature, I never could shoot under the goal during normal plays, so I focused on playing with really strong defense, letting the tall girls make the shots. Midway through the season, my coach pulled me aside and said, “Your defense is good, but it does nothing to get points on the scoreboard. Figure out how to shoot, or I’ll bench you.” I spent the next few weeks perfecting two shots - the layup and the three-pointer. With those skills in my arsenal, I stole the ball with my aggressive defense, sprinted down the court, and finally started putting points on the board.

Cybersecurity is like playing defense in basketball—it’s crucial, but it won’t win the game alone. Cyberwarfare, on the other hand, is playing offense. To succeed in the digital battles of the future, we need both: protecting the “ball” and using it to score. That’s why this round-up of top trends and threats for 2025 isn’t just about hacks and leaks. It’s about offensive capabilities—what we’ll need to fight and win tomorrow’s wars.

The Top 5 Cyberwarfare Threats for 2025

The last two decades of warfare have shown us the challenges of adapting to new battlefields. Following in the footsteps of Alexander the Great, we struggled and ultimately failed to secure Afghanistan, a costly endeavor that claimed the lives of so many loved ones, including those from families like mine. The conflicts ahead will look nothing like the wars of the past; they will be high-tech, fast-moving, and fought on invisible frontlines.

Below are key cyberwarfare threats on my radar for 2025. I hesitate to call them “emerging” because, for those of us in the field, these aren’t new. Many of these concepts have been discussed for years. For example, artificial intelligence (AI) has been around for decades, with the term itself dating back to the 1950s. Yet, despite their history, these technologies remain unfamiliar to many. 

Here’s the top 5 cyberwarfare threats I’m tracking for 2025:

Drone Swarms

Drone swarms are no longer the stuff of science fiction. These autonomous fleets, consisting of dozens or even hundreds of drones, are already reshaping modern warfare, as seen in Ukraine’s ongoing fight against Russian aggression. Drone swarms are dozens or even hundreds of drones working together autonomously to overwhelm enemy defenses, gather intelligence, or execute precise attacks. These swarms could redefine the dynamics of air combat and battlefield reconnaissance, and are creating much concern in terms of the “golden hour” of evacuation - that first 60 minutes after someone is wounded on the battlefield with a traumatic injury. The coordination and lethality of drone swarms could make it nearly impossible to reach casualties as we did in previous conflicts, which may significantly raise the death toll. 

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a double-edged sword in cyberwarfare. It can enhance defensive measures, automate threat detection, and improve decision-making. But it can also be weaponized, enabling adversaries to launch highly sophisticated and adaptive attacks. The race to develop and counter AI-driven capabilities will need to intensify. AI, in my opinion, is very much Pandora’s Box. When it’s weaponized, it’s impossible to get it stuffed back into that box. Instead, we must learn how to live and fight in a world where AI dominates the battlefield. The race to develop and counter AI-driven capabilities will only accelerate in 2025.

Learn more: Artificial Intelligence (AI): Is it the Nuclear Warhead of the Digital Age?

Mis/Disinformation Campaigns

If you’ve been around The Cyber Cowgirl™ blog for long, you know I've been talking about the weaponization of information, including mis/disinformation for a very long time. I won’t repeat my soap box here. Key takeaways: Weaponized misinformation and disinformation remain significant threats in 2025. These devise campaigns can destabilize societies, influence harmful actions, and erode public trust. In the year to come, we can expect even more sophisticated tactics, leveraging deepfakes and AI-generated content to blur the lines between truth and fiction. The time for a silver bullet solution to mis/disinformation has passed. We’ve got to develop capabilities, both individually and communally to ward against its corrosive damage.

Learn more:  “Going Beyond Fake News: Disinformation & Misinformation” Podcast

Unethical Engagement in an Ever-Evolving Battlefield

The rules of engagement in cyberwarfare are murky at best. Unethical tactics, such as targeting civilian infrastructure or exploiting humanitarian crises, are becoming more common. These “dirty” strategies test the limits of international law and challenge our ability to respond without compromising ethical standards. Our adversaries - China, Russia, and Iran - are likely to continue using proxies in this area of attack (Hamas, anyone?). Long gone are the days of combatant vs. combatant. Cyberwarfare remakes the battlefield and does not follow the ethical engagement of conflicts. Civilians are very likely to continue being targeted in egregious ways throughout the wars of our future. Succeeding in these multi-domain conflicts will require the U.S. military and her allies to “fight dirty” in ways that look a lot less “Thunder Run” and a lot more Cyber-meets-Special Forces. 

Learn more: What Everyone Needs to Know About Cyberwarfare

Military Recruiting and Cyber Workforce Shortfalls

The demand for skilled cyber professionals continues to outpace supply, creating a critical vulnerability. Nations and organizations struggle to recruit and retain talent capable of both defending against and executing complex cyber operations.

Addressing this shortfall requires bold action. Here’s my two cents worth:

• Free tuition for cyber-related certificate and degree programs at public institutions.

• Establishing a DoD service academy focused exclusively on cyber, to train the next generation of cyber officers.

• Bolstering National Guard and Reserve direct commissioning of non-deployable cyber officers who can serve stateside near their home communities, providing critical expertise without requiring active-duty commitments.

• Expanding direct commission programs for professionals with advanced degrees in cybersecurity, while offering competitive ranks (O5 and above) and shorter service commitments to attract top talent from the private sector..

Regarding civilian cyber workforce development needs, I co-authored an AFCEA White Paper on this topic that you can download directly from the publication source - A Cyber Curriculum for a Digital Workforce.

What should we do about these cyberwarfare concerns?

Will the robots take over? Will our enemies destroy our financial system? Will the deer start staring at us like in the movie Leave the World Behind?

Awareness of threats is the first step.

The second step is identifying vulnerabilities and then bolstering our capabilities. On an individual level, you can do this through continuing education. You don’t have to have a degree in Computer Science to understand technology. If you use it, you should know how it works—because if you don’t, it just might start using you. Our connectivity doesn’t have to be a glaring vulnerability; it can be a source of strength if we approach it with knowledge and vigilance.

An Exciting Year Ahead for Cyberwarfare

Cyberwarfare is the new frontier of conflict, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. As we move into 2025, it’s clear that the lines between defense and offense are blurring. To protect our future, we must adapt—not just to the threats we face but to the opportunities we have to innovate and lead. The lessons of the past wars remind us that preparation and expertise are everything. Let’s make sure we’re ready—not just to defend the ball, but to take the shot when it matters most.