Cyber warfare is like a digital battlefield where countries or groups use computers and the internet to attack each other’s systems. Instead of using bombs or guns, they use code to steal secrets, disrupt services, or damage infrastructure. It’s warfare in the virtual world, but its effects can be very real.

Imagine if someone hacked into a city’s power grid and shut off electricity—no lights, no hospitals, no internet. That’s an example of what cyber warfare can do. These attacks are often silent and invisible but can cause chaos in a short time.

Cyber warfare is usually carried out by governments or state-sponsored hackers. Their targets often include military networks, government websites, power plants, financial systems, and even elections. For example, in 2007, Estonia was hit by a massive cyberattack that knocked out banks, media, and government services. Many believe a foreign nation was behind it, making it one of the first well-known cases of cyber warfare.

There are different types of cyber attacks used in warfare:

• DDoS attacks (flooding a website so it crashes),
• Malware (damaging software that can spy, steal, or destroy),
• Phishing (tricking people into revealing passwords),
• and ransomware (locking systems until a ransom is paid).

One challenge with cyber warfare is that it’s hard to trace where an attack comes from. That makes it tricky for countries to respond or defend themselves properly. Also, there are few international laws about it, which adds to the confusion.

As technology continues to grow, cyber warfare is expected to become even more common. So, understanding it isn’t just for tech experts—it’s important for all of us to know how digital conflicts can affect the real world.