cyberwar

British  

/ ˈsaɪbəˌwɔː /

noun

1. another term for information warfare

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Explanation

Using computer technology to attack a country's government is known as cyberwar. Waging cyberwar on a foreign power might involve hacking its computer networks. The term cyberwar is slightly different from other kinds of cybercrime, in that it refers specifically to politically motivated attacks on a state or government — or occasionally, on another organization. Today's spies might commit espionage, a form of cyberwar, by hacking into networks to obtain state secrets. The word cyberwar itself uses the technological prefix cyber-, combined with war, from the Old English root wyrre, or "military conflict."

Example Sentences

The key issues will be the supply of raw materials, interest rates, and a possible cyberwar.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

Cyberattacks and cyberwar continue and will only increase.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025

That was the joint U.S.–Israeli cyberwar operation that hacked into the Iranians’ nuclear infrastructure, sabotaging their ability to enrich uranium and thus build an atom bomb.

From Slate • Apr. 15, 2024

Musk, the chief executive of Starlink’s parent, SpaceX, tweeted last May: “Starlink has resisted Russian cyberwar jamming & hacking attempts so far, but they’re ramping up their efforts.”

From Washington Post • Apr. 20, 2023

U.S. officials have credited the federal government’s work with technology companies such as Microsoft for the absence of cyberwar spreading in devastating fashion throughout the Western world.

From Washington Times • Feb. 23, 2023