Small- or medium-sized business (SMB) owners may think they’re unimportant enough to be targeted by hackers. But the truth is that SMBs are prime targets for hackers since they see these organizations — which have less security and fewer resources compared to enterprises — as easy marks. In 2025, SMBs experienced an average of 424 cyberattacks per year, up 36% from 2023. Knowing who these attackers are and what they do can help you better protect your business. Here are the five types of hackers who are most likely to target SMBs in 2026.

Cybercriminals

Cybercriminals use technology for malicious purposes, typically to steal important data or money from individuals and businesses. Cybercriminals often gain access to SMBs through phishing attacks, malware, ransomware, and social engineering tactics. In 2025, ransomware attacks targeting SMBs increased by 54%, with average recovery costs exceeding $200,000. Nextek IT’s cybersecurity services help South Florida businesses defend against ransomware and recover fast if attacked. Once inside the network, they can cause irreparable damage to their victim’s finances, data, and systems. Notable 2025 attack vectors include AI-powered phishing and supply chain compromises.

Insiders

An insider hacker, or malicious insider, is an individual or a group of people with authorized access to a company’s computer systems, either as employees or contractors. Insiders use their privileged status to gain unauthorized access to confidential data, networks, and other corporate assets. As such, they are a growing threat to companies, with the potential to expose sensitive information and disrupt operations. Studies indicate that 34% of data breaches in 2024-2025 involved insider threats. A fully managed IT partner can enforce access controls and monitoring policies that significantly reduce insider risk.

On the other hand, there are some insiders who do what they do in pursuit of what they see as justice. Edward Snowden is a prime example. He famously exposed his employer, the US government, to reveal confidential information about intelligence-gathering practices.

Hacktivists

Technology has given hacktivists the ability to promote their causes in sophisticated ways. By infiltrating computer systems and networks, hacktivists can anonymously access sensitive data that helps them pursue political agendas or as leverage over entities. While hacktivists usually go after governments and large corporations, they may also target SMBs that they feel aren’t aligned with their views or practices. The rise of AI-powered activism tools in 2025 has made hacktivist attacks more sophisticated and harder to defend against.

Script kiddies

A script kiddie is a slang term for someone who is not particularly tech-savvy but uses premade scripts found online to carry out malicious activities. Script kiddies often exploit SMBs’ security gaps for notoriety. In 2025, automated attack tools became more accessible, enabling less-skilled attackers to launch sophisticated campaigns.

Script kiddies may lack experience, but they are not to be underestimated. Even amateurs can create devastating pieces of malware. Modern examples from 2024-2025 include credential-stuffing attacks and automated vulnerability scanning using freely available tools.

State-sponsored hackers

In state-sponsored hacking, government agents gain access to data or networks electronically. Governments do this for a variety of reasons such as to gather intelligence, interfere with political activities, force reform on a particular target, or even cause disruption. In 2025, state-sponsored actors expanded targeting to SMBs in critical infrastructure and technology sectors.

State-sponsored hackers are a serious threat to businesses of all sizes and types, with the potential capability to disrupt an entire country’s financial system or commodity supply lines. Tech companies and pharmaceuticals have long been prime targets for these cybercriminals; however, no industry is safe from their malicious actions. SMB owners must remain vigilant when it comes to guarding against devious state-based attacks, particularly those using zero-day exploits and advanced persistent threats.

These hackers are always looking for new ways to wreak havoc on companies of all sizes. With AI-powered attacks, supply chain vulnerabilities, and remote work expansion creating new risks, don’t wait until it’s too late.