What is a cyber kinetic attack?

A cyber kinetic attack is a type of cyberattack that results in physical damage or disruption to real-world infrastructure. Unlike traditional cyberattacks that steal data or disrupt digital services, cyber kinetic attacks have physical consequences, such as shutting down power grids, damaging industrial machinery or causing transportation systems to fail. These attacks often target critical infrastructure and can blur the lines between cyberwarfare and conventional military operations. The intent behind such an attack is to translate digital intrusion into observable physical impact, making them a significant concern for national security and critical infrastructure protection.

Examples of kinetic attacks

One of the most well-known examples of a kinetic attack is Stuxnet, a computer worm believed to have been developed by nation state actors to damage Iranian nuclear centrifuges. Another example is the 2015 and 2016 cyberattacks on Ukraine’s power grid, which caused widespread blackouts. In these examples, digital tools were used to achieve physical outcomes, disrupting operations and damaging infrastructure.

Difference between a kinetic attack and a non-kinetic attack

Kinetic attacks involve physical force or cause physical effects such as explosions, equipment damage or infrastructure disruption. By contrast, non-kinetic attacks use electronic, cyber or psychological means to achieve their goals without direct physical impact.

For example, a DDoS attack that overwhelms a website is non-kinetic, while a cyberattack that disables a factory’s machinery and halts production is kinetic in nature. While non-kinetic attacks can have severe economic or operational consequences, they do not inherently involve physical destruction.

What is a kinetic threat?

Traditionally, a kinetic threat referred to any risk or hostile action that has the potential to cause real-world physical harm or destruction, typically through conventional weapons, such as bombs, missiles or firearms. These threats were distinguished from intangible forms of aggression like cyber warfare or information operations.

However, the definition has evolved. Today, kinetic threats also encompass cyberattacks that result in physical consequences, such as sabotaging industrial systems or critical infrastructure with cyber tools that trigger physical consequences.

Recognising a kinetic threat means understanding that a vulnerability or malicious intent in the digital space could directly translate into a destructive event in the physical world, necessitating robust defenses for operational technology and industrial control systems.

Difference between a cyber threat and a kinetic threat

The distinction between a cyber threat and a kinetic threat lies in their potential impact. A cyber threat broadly refers to any malicious act or potential danger originating from or targeting cyberspace, encompassing a wide range of activities like data breaches, malware infections or network intrusions, which may or may not cause physical damage. A cyber threat primarily targets information systems, data integrity or network availability.

In contrast, a kinetic threat specifically denotes the potential for physical harm or destruction to real-world assets or people. While a kinetic threat often originates from a cyber threat (i.e., a cyberattack targeting physical systems), not all cyber threats are kinetic.

What is the meaning of kinetic in the military?

In a military context, kinetic refers to actions or effects that involve the application of force or motion to produce physical damage. It typically denotes the use of traditional weaponry that relies on physical energy, such as bullets, bombs, missiles and other projectiles, to achieve objectives. A kinetic strike or kinetic engagement implies a direct physical attack designed to neutralise a target through destructive force.

By contrast, non-kinetic military actions include psychological operations, cyber warfare or information operations that aim to achieve objectives without direct physical force. Essentially, kinetic in the military signifies actions that result in observable, tangible physical outcomes through destructive means.

How cyber warfare relates to kinetic warfare

Kinetic warfare refers to traditional military combat involving direct physical force. This can include the use of firearms, missiles, tanks and other conventional weapons. It often involves direct confrontation, such as battles, invasions and airstrikes, resulting in the destruction of infrastructure, casualties and territorial changes.

Historically, cyberattacks were typically seen as “non-kinetic” because they focused on stealing data, disrupting digital services (like through DDoS attacks) or conducting espionage – without causing direct physical damage.

However, in modern conflict, cyber warfare has expanded beyond targeting information systems and disrupting digital services. Kinetic attacks, which use cyber tools to produce tangible, physical effects – are blurring the line between cyber and kinetic warfare.

FAQs

What is the meaning of kinetic attack?

A kinetic attack is a cyberattack that directly causes physical damage or destruction in the real world. It bridges the gap between digital intrusion and tangible physical impact.

What is a kinetic threat?

A kinetic threat is the potential for a cyberattack to result in physical harm, damage or destruction to real-world assets or individuals. It highlights the risk of digital actions having physical consequences.

What is a non-kinetic attack?

A non-kinetic attack targets information or digital systems without directly causing physical destruction. Its primary impact is on data integrity, system functionality or information availability.

What is kinetic vs. non-kinetic warfare?

Kinetic warfare involves direct physical force and weaponry leading to destruction, while non-kinetic warfare uses cyberattacks to achieve non-physical objectives.

What does kinetic mean in the military?

In the military, kinetic refers to actions using physical force or motion, typically through traditional weaponry, to cause physical impact or destruction.

Kinetic attacks and Silobreaker

Silobreaker helps organizations anticipate and understand cyber kinetic threats by delivering real-time intelligence across cyber, physical and geopolitical domains. As the line between digital and physical threats continues to blur, tracking how cyber activity might translate into real-world impact is vital.

Silobreaker collects data from millions of sources across the open, deep and dark web, as well as premium providers – teaming up the best available data partners, whose content, alerts, feeds and finished intelligence reports are fully integrated into a single platform. Silobreaker goes beyond the capabilities of a traditional TIP (Threat Intelligence Platform).

While it does manage IOCs and other technical data from structured threat feeds, it also allows customers to add their own data, or data they receive from external providers. The platform is source-agnostic and built on over a decade of curating the most relevant open and commercial content.

By connecting diverse data streams and applying contextual analysis, Silobreaker reveals how cyber campaigns, geopolitical tensions, and physical vulnerabilities intersect – empowering your decision-makers to detect and respond to threats with real-world impact.