As software defenses get smarter, threat actors are shifting gears—targeting the one layer most security tools overlook: hardware. In 2025, we’re seeing a sharp rise in hardware-based attacks, especially those exploiting firmware vulnerabilities, malicious peripherals, and advanced side-channel techniques. Attackers are embedding rootkits in BIOS/UEFI, leveraging compromised hardware supply chains, and even weaponizing USB devices that appear harmless but execute payloads instantly on connection. These threats bypass traditional antivirus and EDR solutions because they operate below the OS level, making them extremely difficult to detect or remediate without low-level forensics. With the increasing popularity of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD), IoT integration, and remote work setups, this layer of exploitation is no longer niche—it’s a viable entry point for espionage, sabotage, and persistence. Organizations must evolve their threat models to include hardware attack vectors, invest in firmware integrity monitoring, and implement strict control over physical device access. At Cyber Protection Academy, we emphasize that defending against modern threats means not just thinking in terms of software, but acknowledging the silicon beneath it all.