50+ Hacking & Cybersecurity Statistics (2026)
Last updated: March 2026
A cyberattack happens every 39 seconds. The global cost of cybercrime is projected to hit $10.5 trillion annually by 2025. Here are 50+ hacking and cybersecurity statistics covering attack frequency, costs, methods, and defense for 2026.
Key Hacking Statistics (2026)
- A cyberattack occurs every 39 seconds (University of Maryland)
- Global cybercrime cost: $10.5 trillion/year by 2025 (Cybersecurity Ventures)
- Average data breach cost: $4.88 million (IBM)
- 43% of cyberattacks target small businesses (Verizon)
- Ransomware average payment: $1.5 million
- Global cybersecurity spending: $215 billion (2025) (Gartner)
Cyberattack Frequency & Scale
| Statistic | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Attacks per day globally | ~2,200 | U of Maryland |
| Attack frequency | Every 39 seconds | U of Maryland |
| Ransomware attacks (2024) | 317 million | SonicWall |
| DDoS attacks (2024) | 13 million+ | Netscout |
| Phishing emails sent daily | 3.4 billion | AAG |
| New malware samples/day | 560,000 | AV-TEST |
| Small businesses targeted | 43% | Verizon DBIR |
Cost of Cybercrime
| Metric | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Global cybercrime annual cost | $10.5 trillion | Cybersecurity Ventures |
| Average data breach cost | $4.88 million | IBM 2025 |
| US average breach cost | $9.36 million | IBM 2025 |
| Healthcare breach cost | $10.93 million (highest) | IBM 2025 |
| Average ransomware payment | $1.5 million | Sophos |
| Time to identify breach | 194 days | IBM |
| Time to contain breach | 64 days | IBM |
| Cybersecurity spending (2025) | $215 billion | Gartner |
Attack Methods
| Method | % of Breaches |
|---|---|
| Phishing | 36% |
| Stolen/compromised credentials | 29% |
| Business email compromise | 12% |
| Ransomware | 11% |
| Social engineering (other) | 10% |
| Zero-day exploits | 5% |
Website Hacking Statistics
- 30,000 websites hacked every day (Sophos)
- 64% of companies worldwide have experienced at least one cyberattack
- WordPress: 11,334 vulnerabilities in 2025, 91% in plugins (Patchstack)
- Median time to exploit a WordPress vulnerability: 5 hours
- 95% of cybersecurity breaches are caused by human error
For WordPress-specific data, see our detailed WordPress Hacking Statistics.
Key Takeaways
- Cyberattacks are constant. One every 39 seconds, 2,200/day. It’s not if, it’s when.
- The cost is staggering. $10.5 trillion annually, $4.88M per breach. Healthcare pays the most.
- Phishing dominates. 36% of breaches start with a phishing email. Train your team.
- Small businesses are prime targets. 43% of attacks target them, but only 14% are prepared.
Sources
- IBM — Cost of a Data Breach 2025
- Verizon — Data Breach Investigations Report
- Cybersecurity Ventures
- Patchstack — WordPress Security 2026
- Gartner — Cybersecurity Spending
Frequently Asked Questions
How often do cyberattacks happen?
A cyberattack occurs every 39 seconds — approximately 2,200 per day globally. 3.4 billion phishing emails are sent daily.
How much does a data breach cost?
The global average is $4.88 million. In the US it’s $9.36 million. Healthcare is the most expensive sector at $10.93 million per breach.
What is the most common type of cyberattack?
Phishing accounts for 36% of all data breaches. Stolen credentials cause 29%. Together, human-targeted attacks (phishing + social engineering) cause the majority of breaches.
See also: Password Statistics and WordPress Hacking Statistics.
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