What Is a Cyberattack? Cyberattack Types & How to Prevent
Most people save their information, such as email ID, SSN, and credit card details, on websites. This enables a faster and hassle-free online experience. However, it also makes users vulnerable to cyberattacks. In this article, we’ll discuss cyberattacks, the different types that exist, and how to prevent cyberattacks.
What is a cyberattack?
A cyber attack is, by definition, any deliberate attempt by hackers to damage a computer network, system, or technology-dependent enterprise. The individuals who carry out cyber attacks are referred to as cybercriminals, hackers, or black-hat actors.
Hackers are people who use their computer skills to find weaknesses in a computer network and exploit them to achieve their evil motives. An individual or a group of criminals can execute an attack from any location using different tactics. This takes place after identifying vulnerabilities in computer systems.
Operatives working on behalf of governments also engage in cyber espionage. Sponsored groups of computer experts are recognized as nation-state attackers. Their targets often include critical infrastructure, governmental networks of rival nations, and non-government entities.
These attacks take many forms, such as stealing data, disrupting services, or gaining unauthorized access to systems. Cyber threats use various methods to acquire data held within these systems.
Why do cyberattacks happen?
Bad actors plant attacks for various reasons, from petty financial gains to causing disruption. The motivation depends on the goals.
- Financial gains. Most hackers want to profit. They might steal money through fraud or sell stolen data on the dark web. Some use ransomware, which locks your files and demands payment to unlock them.
- Data theft or espionage. Data is valuable. Hackers might steal trade secrets, government files, or personal information. Some do it to spy on other companies or countries.
- Disruption and chaos. Some attacks aim to disrupt important systems, like power grids or banks. This can harm businesses or create confusion.
- Revenge. Angry former employees might attack their old company. These attacks are hard to stop because the person already knows the system.
- Cyberwarfare. Some governments use cyberattacks to weaken their enemies without starting a war. They might target things like power, phones, or finance.
- Political and ideological motives. Hacktivists attack groups they disagree with to make a point. They often try to embarrass or expose their targets.
- Terrorism. Cyberterrorists use attacks to spread fear, hurt services, or attack governments.
Unfortunately, in the digital age, almost nobody is safe from the threat of a cyberattack. Protecting yourself and your information is as crucial as ever.
How a cyberattack works
Hackers use different tricks to launch attacks, depending on their goal. Some attacks target many people at once, while others focus on a specific organization.
In wide attacks, hackers try to infect as many systems as they can. They might use software bugs or send scam emails to spread harmful code.
Phishing is one of the most common tricks. In phishing attacks, hackers send fake emails that try to trick people into clicking links. These links often lead to harmful software being downloaded.
Some hackers go after specific targets. These targeted attacks use custom methods. One example is the suspected DDoS attack on the Minneapolis Police Department in 2020 by the group Anonymous.
Most cyberattacks follow a step-by-step process. First comes reconnaissance, where the hacker collects information about the target to find weak spots. Next, they try to break in, often using phishing.
Once inside, hackers install malware or set up backdoors so they can return later. Then, they escalate access, meaning they try to gain more control over the system.
They may move around the network to steal important data. In the end, hackers try to hide their actions by deleting records or using encryption to cover their tracks.
Ten common types of cyber attacks
Cybercrime activities have increased in number and complexity. You should be aware of different types.
Malware
Malware is the type of cyberattack hackers prefer the most. Today, they use fireless malware to circumvent cybersecurity tools already aligned to protect against unusual threats. A malicious code is embedded using a native scripting language to harm your device or server.
It's common because it encompasses various subsets such as viruses, spyware, worms, bots, and Trojans. Malicious files deny access to the vital components of any network.
Phishing
Phishing is a type of scam where attackers trick people into giving away personal information. They often do this by sending fake emails that look real.
These emails might ask you to click a link or download something. If you do, hackers can take control of your device or steal your information.
DDoS attacks
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks originate from multiple systems. The attacks are meant to disrupt the normal traffic of a system to overload bandwidth or resources.
This means that the system won’t fulfill or process legitimate requests. Instead, the hacker takes a system offline and achieves service denial to intended users.
Ransomware attacks
Advanced ransomware allows threat actors to block access to device files once the system is infected. Unless a ransom is paid, they threaten to publish the data on the dark web.
Many online businesses have lost money from these hacking activities because cybercriminals demand hefty payment through untraceable cryptocurrency to regain access to their system.
Password attacks
Malicious users can control and manipulate your system by accessing your passwords. Password attackers use brute force password attacks to try all possible variants to guess passwords. They use a combination of information to obtain unencrypted passwords.
MitM (man-in-the middle) attacks
MitM attacks take place when a hacker eavesdrops on a conversation between two-party transactions. Attackers insert themselves in the middle of a web application and network user. The scheme is to collect confidential information for their benefit.
Attackers can decide to impersonate one party to solicit additional information. They change logins, initiate the transfer of funds, and even complete other transactions. MitM attacks get their place when you connect to unsecured public WiFi networks.
IoT-based attacks
The rise of the Internet of Things presents a growing number of IoT attacks. Attackers have identified access points to unleash the personal information of the users.
Due to the steady growth of IoT devices, businesses need to invest in reliable security tools for their operating systems.
SQL injections
SQL injections happen when hackers put harmful code into websites that aren’t protected. This lets them break in and steal private information.
To stop this, websites should use safe coding practices like limiting what kind of information can be requested from the database.
Zero-day exploit
New networks often have security holes that no one knows about yet. Hackers can take advantage of these flaws before they’re fixed. These attacks are called zero-day exploits, and they’re very valuable to cybercriminals because they can cause a lot of harm before anyone stops them.
DNS tunneling
Domain name system tunneling leverages DNS queries to maneuver around traditional security measures aligned by organizations. Cyber terrorists create and transmit code within a network.
Once infected, they can extract data, IP information, and identity by encoding it into DNS responses.
Consequences of cyberattacks
A cyberattack can seriously hurt any organization. It can lead to stolen or changed data, lost money, and damaged reputation. Customers may also stop trusting the business.
Cybercrime is a growing problem. Cybercrime Magazine says global damage hit $6 trillion and may rise to $10.5 trillion by 2025. BBC News also reported that over half of UK businesses faced cyber threats, but many weren’t ready to handle them.
Still, there are ways to protect against these threats. Cybersecurity professionals need the right tools and support to defend against attacks.
How to protect yourself from cyberattacks
Cyberattacks can happen to anyone. If big companies can be hacked, regular users can too. But you can take steps to protect yourself:
- Use strong passwords. Hackers can guess weak passwords. Make sure to change yours often and use a password manager to help you remember them.
- Check your accounts. Keep an eye out for any strange activity. Regular checks help stop attacks before they get worse.
- Turn on two-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication adds an extra step when logging in, making it harder for hackers to get in. A two-way firewall can also help block suspicious activity.
- Keep software updated. No system is perfect, but updates fix known problems. This can stop malware from spreading and protect your devices.
Examples of cyberattacks
The WannaCry ransomware attack was one of the biggest ever. It happened in 2017 and spread to about 250,000 computers in 150 countries. It shut down hospitals, businesses, and airlines. Some of the major victims included the UK’s NHS, FedEx, and Telefonica in Spain.
Experts say the attack caused up to $6 billion in damage around the world.
Facebook also had a major outage before August 2019. The company didn’t tell users at the time. Later, it was revealed that hackers had stolen data from over 500 million people.
Other big attacks include the NotPetya virus, a hack on Florida’s water system, and the Colonial Pipeline attack.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a cyberattack and a data breach?
A cyberattack is an attempt to harm systems, while a data breach involves unauthorized data access.
How can a VPN protect me from cyberattacks?
Using public WiFi can vastly expose your identity online. A virtual private network, or VPN, secures your WiFi connections by masking your IP addresses from hackers.
What are the effects of cybercrime?
Some common effects of hacking include security costs, identity theft, monetary losses, and piracy in the music industry.
