Types of Cyber Attacks

A cyber attack refers to an action designed to target a computer or any element of a computerized information system to change, destroy, or steal data, as well as exploit or harm a network. Cyber attacks have been on the rise, in sync with the digitization of business that has become more and more popular in recent years. 

While there are dozens of different types of attacks, the list of cyber attacks includes the 20 most common examples.

Who do cyberattackers target?

Cyberattackers commonly target industries including health care, government, non-profits, and finance companies. The health care industry has been especially susceptible to being targeted by attackers. This is because health care organizations have access to many people’s personal data. Since health care infrastructure is so critical, ransomware attackers understand that these organizations will likely pay their demands quickly.

Confidential information, such as social security numbers, cause government organizations to fall victim to hackers as well. Nonprofits are unique in that they possess financial data from donors and fundraising efforts, making them ideal targets for cyberattacks. In the finance industry, institutions like banks and insurance companies are common targets for extortion and theft due to their access to significant amounts of money.

Common types of cyberattacks

Cyberattacks can have motives other than financial gain. Some cyberattacks focus on destroying or gaining access to critical data.

Organizations and individuals face the following types of typical cyberattacks:

1. Malware

Cyberattackers use harmful software such as spyware, viruses, ransomware, and worms known as malware to access your system’s data. When you click on a malicious attachment or link, the malware can install itself and become active on your device.

2. Phishing

Phishing attacks rely on communication methods like email to convince you to open the message and follow the instructions inside. If you follow the attackers’ instructions, they gain access to personal data, such as credit cards, and can install malware on your device.

3. Spoofing

Cyber attackers will sometimes imitate people or companies to trick you into giving up personal information. This can happen in different ways. A common spoofing strategy involves using a fake caller ID, where the person receiving the call doesn’t see that the number is falsified. Other spoofing methods include subverting facial recognition systems, using a fake domain name, or creating a fake website.

4. Backdoor Trojan

Backdoor Trojan attacks involve malicious programs that can deceptively install malware or data and open up what’s referred to as the “backdoor” to your computer system. When attackers gain access to the backdoor, they can hijack the device without it being known to the user.

5. Ransomware

Ransomware is malicious software that cyberattackers can install on your device, allowing them to block your access until you pay the attackers a ransom. However, paying the ransom doesn’t guarantee the removal of the software, so experts often advise individuals not to pay the ransom if possible.

6. Password attacks

Password attacks can be as simple as someone correctly guessing your password or other methods such as keylogging, where attackers can monitor the information you type and then identify passwords. An attacker can also use the aforementioned phishing approach to masquerade as a trusted site and try to fool you into revealing your account credentials.

7. Internet of Things attack

Communication channels between connected IoT components can be susceptible to cyberattacks and the applications and software found on IoT devices. Since IoT devices are in connection with one another through the internet and may have limited security features, there is a larger attack surface that attackers can target.

8. Cryptojacking

Cryptojacking involves gaining unauthorized use of a computer system, usually through malware that allows the attacker to use the computer’s resources for mining cryptocurrency. Mining cryptocurrency can come with significant operational costs, so cryptojacking provides attackers with a way to avoid these expenses.

9. Drive-by download

Drive-by download attacks occur when you download malicious code to your device through an app, website, or operating system with flawed security systems. This means you could do nothing wrong and still be a victim of a drive-by download since it can occur due to a lack of security measures on a site you believe to be safe.

10. Denial-of-service attack

A denial-of-service attack causes an entire device or operating system to shut down by overwhelming it with traffic, causing it to crash. Attackers don’t often use this method to steal information. Instead, it costs the victim time and money to get their systems up and running again. Cybercriminals typically use this method when the target is a trade organization or government entity.

How to prevent cyberattacks

An important first step in preventing cyberattacks is ensuring you and other employees at your organization know of the potential of cyberattacks. Being mindful before clicking links and checking the email address to ensure it appears legitimate can go a long way in ensuring your data and systems are kept safe.

Update your software.

Up-to-date software systems are more resilient than outdated versions, which may be prone to having weaknesses. Updates can correct any flaws and weaknesses in the software, so having the latest version is optimal. Additionally, consider keeping software systems updated by investing in a patch management system.

Install a firewall.

Firewalls are helpful in preventing a variety of attacks, such as backdoors and denial-of-service attacks. They work by controlling the network traffic moving through your system. A firewall will also stop any suspicious activity it deems potentially harmful to the computer.

Back up data.

When you back up data, you move it to a different, secure location for storage. This might involve using cloud storage or a physical device like a hard drive. In case of an attack, backing up your data allows you to recover any lost data.

Encrypt data.

Data encryption is a popular way to prevent cyberattacks, and it ensures data is only accessible to those who have the decryption key. To successfully attack encrypted data, attackers often have to rely on the brute force method of trying different keys until they can guess the right one, making breaking the encryption challenging.

Use strong passwords.

You should have strong passwords to prevent attacks and avoid using the same passwords for different accounts and systems. Using the same password repeatedly increases the risk of giving attackers access to all your information. Regularly updating your passwords and using passwords that combine special characters, upper and lowercase letters, and numbers can help protect your accounts.

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Top 20 Most Common Types of Cybersecurity Attacks

1. DoS and DDoS attacks

A denial-of-service (DoS) attack is designed to overwhelm the resources of a system to the point where it is unable to reply to legitimate service requests. A distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack is similar in that it also seeks to drain the resources of a system. A DDoS attack is initiated by a vast array of malware-infected host machines controlled by the attacker. These are referred to as “denial of service” attacks because the victim site is unable to provide service to those who want to access it.

With a DoS attack, the target site gets flooded with illegitimate requests. Because the site has to respond to each request, its resources get consumed by all the responses. This makes it impossible for the site to serve users as it normally does and often results in a complete shutdown of the site.

DoS and DDoS attacks are different from other types of cyber attacks that enable the hacker to either obtain access to a system or increase the access they currently have. With these types of attacks, the attacker directly benefits from their efforts. With DoS and DDoS network attacks, on the other hand, the objective is simply to interrupt the effectiveness of the target’s service. If a business competitor hires the attacker, they may benefit financially from their efforts.

A DoS attack can also be used to create vulnerability for another type of attack. With a successful DoS or DDoS attack, the system often has to come offline, which can leave it vulnerable to other types of attacks. One common way to prevent DoS attacks is to use a firewall that detects whether requests sent to your site are legitimate. Imposter requests can then be discarded, allowing normal traffic to flow without interruption. An example of a major internet attack of this kind occurred in February 2020 to Amazon Web Services (AWS).  

2. MITM attacks

Man-in-the-middle (MITM) types of cyber attacks refer to breaches in cybersecurity that make it possible for an attacker to eavesdrop on the data sent back and forth between two people, networks, or computers. It is called a “man in the middle” attack because the attacker positions themselves in the “middle” or between the two parties trying to communicate. In effect, the attacker is spying on the interaction between the two parties.

In a MITM attack, the two parties involved feel like they are communicating as they normally do. What they do not know is that the person actually sending the message illicitly modifies or accesses the message before it reaches its destination. Some ways to protect yourself and your organization from MITM attacks is by using strong encryption on access points or to use a virtual private network (VPN).

3. Phishing attacks

A phishing attack occurs when a malicious actor sends emails that seem to be coming from trusted, legitimate sources in an attempt to grab sensitive information from the target. Phishing attacks combine social engineering and technology and are so-called because the attacker is, in effect, “fishing” for access to a forbidden area by using the “bait” of a seemingly trustworthy sender. 

To execute the attack, the bad actor may send a link that brings you to a website that then fools you into downloading malware such as viruses, or giving the attacker your private information. In many cases, the target may not realize they have been compromised, which allows the attacker to go after others in the same organization without anyone suspecting malicious activity.

You can prevent phishing attacks from achieving their objectives by thinking carefully about the kinds of emails you open and the links you click on. Pay close attention to email headers, and do not click on anything that looks suspicious. Check the parameters for “Reply-to” and “Return-path.” They need to connect to the same domain presented in the email.

4. Whale-phishing attacks

A whale-phishing attack is so-named because it goes after the “big fish” or whales of an organization, which typically include those in the C-suite or others in charge of the organization. These individuals are likely to possess information that can be valuable to attackers, such as proprietary information about the business or its operations. 

If a targeted “whale” downloads ransomware, they are more likely to pay the ransom to prevent news of the successful attack from getting out and damaging their reputation or that of the organization. Whale-phishing attacks can be prevented by taking the same kinds of precautions to avoid phishing attacks, such as carefully examining emails and the attachments and links that come with them, keeping an eye out for suspicious destinations or parameters.

5. Spear-phishing attacks

Spear phishing refers to a specific type of targeted phishing attack. The attacker takes the time to research their intended targets and then write messages the target is likely to find personally relevant. These types of attacks are aptly called “spear” phishing because of the way the attacker hones in on one specific target. The message will seem legitimate, which is why it can be difficult to spot a spear-phishing attack.

Often, a spear-phishing attack uses email spoofing, where the information inside the “From” portion of the email is faked, making it look like the email is coming from a different sender. This can be someone the target trusts, like an individual within their social network, a close friend, or a business partner. Attackers may also use website cloning to make the communication seem legitimate. With website cloning, the attacker copies a legitimate website to lull the victim into a sense of comfort. The target, thinking the website is real, then feels comfortable entering their private information.

6. Ransomware

With Ransomware, the victim’s system is held hostage until they agree to pay a ransom to the attacker. After the payment has been sent, the attacker then provides instructions regarding how the target can regain control of their computer. The name “ransomware” is appropriate because the malware demands a ransom from the victim.

In a ransomware attack, the target downloads ransomware, either from a website or from within an email attachment. The malware is written to exploit vulnerabilities that have not been addressed by either the system’s manufacturer or the IT team. The ransomware then encrypts the target’s workstation. At times, ransomware can be used to attack multiple parties by denying access to either several computers or a central server essential to business operations.

7. Password attacks

Passwords are the access verification tool of choice for most people, so figuring out a target’s password is an attractive proposition for a hacker. This can be done using a few different methods. Often, people keep copies of their passwords on pieces of paper or sticky notes around or on their desks. An attacker can either find the password themselves or pay someone on the inside to get it for them.  

An attacker may also try to intercept network transmissions to grab passwords not encrypted by the network. They can also use social engineering, which convinces the target to input their password to solve a seemingly “important” problem. In other cases, the attacker can simply guess the user’s password, particularly if they use a default password or one that is easy to remember such as “1234567.”

8. SQL injection attacks

Structured Query Language (SQL) injection is a common method of taking advantage of websites that depend on databases to serve their users. Clients are computers that get information from servers, and an SQL attack uses an SQL query sent from the client to a database on the server. The command is inserted, or “injected”, into a data plane in place of something else that normally goes there, such as a password or login. The server that holds the database then runs the command and the system is penetrated.

If an SQL injection succeeds, several things can happen, including the release of sensitive data or the modification or deletion of important data. Also, an attacker can execute administrator operations like a shutdown command, which can interrupt the function of the database.

9. URL interpretation

With URL interpretation, attackers alter and fabricate certain URL addresses and use them to gain access to the target’s personal and professional data. This kind of attack is also referred to as URL poisoning. The name “URL interpretation” comes from the fact that the attacker knows the order in which a web-page’s URL information needs to be entered. The attacker then “interprets” this syntax, using it to figure out how to get into areas they do not have access to.

To execute a URL interpretation attack, a hacker may guess URLs they can use to gain administrator privileges to a site or to access the site’s back end to get into a user’s account. Once they get to the page they want, they can manipulate the site itself or gain access to sensitive information about the people who use it.

10. DNS spoofing

With Domain Name System (DNS) spoofing, a hacker alters DNS records to send traffic to a fake or “spoofed” website. Once on the fraudulent site, the victim may enter sensitive information that can be used or sold by the hacker. The hacker may also construct a poor-quality site with derogatory or inflammatory content to make a competitor company look bad.

In a DNS spoofing attack, the attacker takes advantage of the fact that the user thinks the site they are visiting is legitimate. This gives the attacker the ability to commit crimes in the name of an innocent company, at least from the perspective of the visitor.

To prevent DNS spoofing, make sure your DNS servers are kept up-to-date. Attackers aim to exploit vulnerabilities in DNS servers, and the most recent software versions often contain fixes that close known vulnerabilities.

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