Types of Attacks in Cyber Security

Introduction

Public and private networks are the subject of cyberattacks every day, and the variety of attacks has dramatically increased. Sensitive data has recently been made public as a result of multiple types of cyber attacks. The inability of the firm to develop, test, and retest technological measures, such as firewalls, encryption, and authentication, led to the cyber security issue.

Cyberattacks can occur for a number of causes. Money is one. A cyber attacker may take a system offline and then demand payment to restore it to operation. Ransomware attacks, which require payment to be decrypted, are more advanced than ever.

Cyber attacks target both individuals and corporations, frequently as a result of the personal information, people save on their mobile devices and the usage of insecure public networks.

It is crucial to keep track of evolving and increasingly frequent cyberattacks to enhance cyber security.

What is a Cyber Attack?

Any potential harmful attack that aims to gain unauthorized access to data, interfere with digital activities or contaminate information is referred to as a cyber security threat. Cyber threats may come from a variety of sources, including corporate espionage, hacktivists, terrorist organizations, adversarial nation-states, criminal organizations, lone hackers, and disgruntled workers.

Cyber attackers can utilize sensitive data from an individual or an organization to steal information or get access to bank accounts, among other potentially harmful acts, which is why cyber security specialists are critical for keeping private data secure.

Types of Cyber Attacks

Although there are several ways for an attacker to get access to an IT system, the majority of cyber-attacks use very similar strategies. Here are a few of the most typical types of cyber attacks :

Malware-Based Attacks

Malware is "malicious software" that aims to damage or steal information from a server, network, or computer.

You are tricked into downloading malware onto your gadgets by hackers. When a malicious script is installed, it bypasses protection and works in the background, allowing hackers access to your critical information and the chance to possibly take over.

One of the most widely utilized forms of cyberattack is malware. You should also be aware of the following variations:

• Ransomware: The data on your computer is encrypted by this form of virus, and you can't access them unless you pay a "ransom" (usually in cryptocurrency).
• Spyware: This sort of spyware spies on your activity and provides information back to the hacker, as the name indicates. This can involve passwords, logins, and financial information.
• Keyloggers: Similar to spyware, except they also keep track of your activity. The hacker receives whatever you input (together with the website you type it in) and can use it for identity theft or blackmail.
• Trojans: These varieties of malware "hide" inside a reliable piece of software, earning their name from the well-known Trojan horse. For instance, you may download what you believe to be antivirus software, only for your device to get infected.
• Viruses: When you open software or a file that has a virus attached to it, the virus is activated. Once activated, a virus can multiply itself secretly, slowing down your device or erasing data. Additionally, there are "worms," which are viruses that travel from one infected machine to another inside your network, giving hackers remote access to your whole system.

Malware attacks may affect individuals, such as when you click a link in a phishing email. However, they are also used to target corporations and organizations.

Phishing Attacks

A cybercriminal conducts a phishing attack when they send you a false email, text message (also known as "smishing"), or phone call (also known as "vishing"). These communications appear to be from an official source or a person or organization you trust, such as your bank, the FBI, or a corporation like Microsoft, Apple, or Netflix.

In reality, these texts are delivered by imposters. They can take control of your accounts if you reply with private information like your password.

You might also receive phishing or smishing messages that direct you to open an email attachment or click on a link that downloads malware to your computer or directs you to a phishing website that is intended to steal your personal information. Phishing attacks frequently target a broad audience rather than a specific person(s). However, some recent phishing cyberattacks are tougher to detect and more focused on. These consist of:

• Spear Phishing Attack: These are frequently done by email and are directed at a single person. The hacker will utilize your personal information purchased on the Dark Web (or discovered in your digital footprint and on social networks) to make it sound more credible and entice you to click on the link.
• Whaling: A whale phishing attack happens when a hacker targets high-profile persons such as CEOs and executives. The intention is to acquire their login information and gain backdoor access to their company's network.
• Angler Phishing Scams: In an Angler attack, a hacker "baits" victims on social media by impersonating a well-known company's customer care account. Scammers set up accounts with names like "@AmazonHelp$" and then automatically reply to pertinent messages with a link that directs you to a "rep" for further discussion. But in reality, it's a fraud meant to steal your data.

Man-In-The-Middle Attacks

A man-in-the-middle (MitM) attack happens when an attacker intercepts data or compromises your network to "eavesdrop" on you. These attacks are more frequent while utilizing public Wi-Fi networks since they are so simple to exploit.

Consider the scenario when you need to check the amount in your bank account while utilizing Starbucks' Wi-Fi. When you log in, a hacker might steal your information, including your username and password, and use that information to subsequently empty your account.

MitM attacks may be used to "spoof" talks as well. Hackers interject themselves into your dialogue and pose as the other party you believe you are speaking to.

Denial Of Service Attacks (DOS and DDoS)

Many cyberattacks aim to overload servers and force the termination of services.

A denial of service (DOS) attack happens when hackers utilize fraudulent requests and traffic to overload and shut down a system. The same kind of attack, known as a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack, is carried out simultaneously by several compromised devices.

These cyberattacks typically aim to disrupt or even completely stop commercial activities rather than steal data. DDoS attacks have severely crippled Amazon's AWS and brought down websites including Twitter, SoundCloud, and Spotify.

SQL Injection Attacks

The majority of websites store sensitive data like logins, passwords, and account information in SQL databases. Hackers employ SQL injection to "trick" the database into revealing this information.

Even though these attacks are quite complex, they involve a hacker typing specified SQL instructions into a data entry box (like a login or password field). These instructions can access confidential information, alter database information, or even start executive processes (such as shutting down the system).

DNS Tunneling

Hackers utilize DNS tunneling, a form of cyberattack, to get around more established security measures like firewalls and access systems and networks. Malicious programs are concealed within DNS requests and answers by hackers (that most security programs ignore).

As soon as the malware gets inside, it clings to the target server and grants the hackers remote access.

Due to their propensity to go unreported for days, weeks, or even months, DNS tunneling attacks are particularly risky. During this period, thieves can steal important data, modify code, establish new access points, and even implant malware.

In one instance, hackers attacked Air India and other airlines using DNS tunneling to obtain credit card and passport information. For over two months, there was a "backdoor" available.

Zero-day Exploits

Zero-day exploits are cybersecurity flaws that exist in software or networks without the manufacturer's awareness. For example, Apple may release a new version of iOS that has an unintentional vulnerability that allows hackers to access your iCloud information. The firm being targeted has "zero days" to address the issue when they become aware of it because they are already exposed.

A zero-day attack happens when criminals get access to a system using those flaws to steal data or inflict harm. Microsoft, Google, and Apple all had to fix zero-day problems in the early months of 2022.

Password Attacks

Any cyberattack in which hackers attempt to guess, brute force, or con you into disclosing your passwords is referred to as a password attack.

You should be aware of a few possible password-based cyberattacks, including:

• Password Spraying: It is when hackers try to use the same password on many accounts. For instance, more than 3.5 million Americans regularly use the password "123456."
• Brute Force: A brute force attack happens when hackers construct software that tries various login and password combinations until it finds one that works.
• Social Engineering: These attacks occur when hackers utilize psychology to deceive you into giving up your password. For instance, fraudsters could trick you into "confirming" your account information by sending you a phishing email that appears to be from your bank.

Drive-By Download Attacks

The majority of online attacks demand that you take some sort of action, such as clicking on a link or downloading a file. However, a drive-by attack (or drive-by download) happens when you merely surf a compromised website.

To install malware on your device without your awareness, hackers take use of flaws in plug-ins, online browsers, and apps.

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Attacks

A cross-site scripting (XSS) attack allows hackers to obtain unauthorized access to a program or website.

Malicious JavaScript is installed on consumers' computers by cybercriminals who take advantage of weak websites. When the code is executed in your browser, the hacker has access to your account and can do whatever you can do.

Web pages, forums, and message boards are examples of susceptible sites to XSS. These web pages rely on user input that has not been checked for harmful code. Even more significant sites are vulnerable.

Rootkits

Rootkits are a kind of malware that allows attackers to take control of and access the target machine at the administrator level. Rootkits are extremely harmful and difficult to find because they lurk deep within the operating system of your device.

A rootkit might be used by hackers to steal confidential data, set up keyloggers, or even uninstall antivirus software.

DNS Spoofing or “Poisoning”

By using the Domain Name System (DNS) spoofing technique, cybercriminals may direct online traffic to a "spoofed" website. These websites appear to be almost comparable to your destination   However, any data you provide the hackers will have access to your accounts because it is sent directly to them.

Hackers can also employ DNS spoofing to harm businesses by diverting users to a low-quality site with filthy content.

Internet of Things (IoT) Attacks

Cyber attackers can also target Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets like smart speakers, TVs, and toys. An Internet of Things (IoT) attack happens when cybercriminals take data from a device or connect several IoT devices to a botnet that may be used for DDoS attacks.

IoT devices frequently lack antivirus software, making them prime targets for cybercriminals. The greatest DDoS attacks in history frequently made use of IoT devices "bot armies." Even your "smart fridge" might be an unknowing soldier in a cyber strike, despite what would seem impossible.

Session Hijacking

Session hijacking is a form of a man-in-the-middle attack in which the attacker "takes over" a client-server session. Without requiring any kind of verification, the attacker's machine switches its IP address for the client's address and keeps connecting to the server.

Hackers have complete control over a session once they've taken over the client's account. Consider accessing the internal database of your business while on a business trip. A hacker can access all of your company's files if they take over your session.

URL Manipulation

URL manipulation happens when hackers change the parameters of a URL address to redirect you to a phishing site or download malware.

For instance, a lot of individuals make use of URL shorteners to make it easier to remember large web domains or particular pages. Hackers can direct you to a phishing site intended to steal your personal information if they "poison" that shortened URL.

In other cases, hackers change the URL to trick the server into displaying sites they shouldn't be able to see. For example, someone may type "www.yoursitename.com/admin" to reach your login page or "www.yoursitename.com/.bak" to access backup files.

Cryptojacking

Cryptojacking is a cyberattack that anonymously mines for cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and Ethereum using the computing power of your computer. And as a result, your computer systems will be much slower and there may also be other vulnerabilities.

Inside Threats

Cyber attacks frequently originate from an outside danger, such as a hacker organization. However, there is also the possibility of insider threats.

When an employee of a corporation intentionally steals data, grants illegal access to someone, or divulges credentials, this is known as an insider threat.

How to Prevent Cyber Attacks?

Cyber-attacks can be mainly divided into the following types:

Web-based Attacks

These are the types of cyber attacks that target websites or online applications. The following are some significant web-based attacks:

Phishing

Here are some straightforward guidelines for spotting and avoiding phishing schemes.

• Be familiar with phishing scams.
• Avoid selecting the link
• Download free anti-phishing extensions
• Avoid providing your details to unsafe websites.
• Frequently switch out passwords
• Pay attention to those updates
• Put up firewalls.
• Avoid being seduced by those pop-up ads.
• Only provide vital information when necessary.
• Use a data security platform to identify attack indicators.

Man-in-the-middle attack (MITM)

Consider employing a VPN (a virtual private network) while connecting to your network if the communication protocols you employ lack end-to-end encryption, especially if you are doing so from a public Wi-Fi hotspot. Watch out for phony websites, annoying pop-ups, and incorrect certificates. Check each URL for "HTTPS" at the start.

Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Attack

DDoS attacks are difficult to halt once they start since there aren't many indicators to watch for or techniques to do so. However, if you use a modern firewall or intrusion prevention system (IPS), you'll get real-time information about any irregularities in the flow of traffic, network performance problems, sporadic website breakdowns, etc. Additionally, it would be a good idea to place your servers in various data centers, allowing you to transition to a new server if the one you are using fails. In many respects, having a tried-and-true response strategy in place that would allow you to quickly restore your systems to service while maintaining business activities is the greatest method to protect your network against DDoS attacks.

SQL Injection

The only approach to stop SQL injection attacks is to confirm that all inputs have been thoroughly sanitized by the web developers. To put it another way, information cannot be immediately extracted from a text field, such as a password field, and then saved in a database. Instead, it is necessary to validate the entered password to make sure it satisfies predetermined standards.

Zero-day Exploit

Due to the lack of awareness of these risks, traditional antivirus programs are ineffective against them. As a result, there is no method to completely shield against such attacks. Next-Generation Antivirus (NGAV) solutions, on the other hand, can aid in preventing attackers from downloading unfamiliar software and installing it on a victim's machine. Naturally, updating all software will aid in removing vulnerabilities, and having a tried-and-true incident response strategy in place will aid in speedy recovery in the case of an infection.

DNS Tunnelling

You will likely need to spend money on specialist solutions like TunnelGuard, Zscaler, and DNSFilter since conventional firewalls and antivirus software cannot detect DNS tunneling. Make sure the solutions you employ can automatically prevent malware contained in malicious DNS requests from being executed. Additionally, it should enable real-time analysis of all DNS requests to look for suspicious trends and ban locations that are known to be used for data exfiltration.

Cryptojacking

You must keep an eye on how much CPU time each network device is using, including any cloud-based infrastructure you may be using, to defend your network against crypto-jacking. Additionally, it's a good idea to teach your staff to be alert for any performance difficulties or strange communications that could be infected with the Cryptojacking virus.

Drive-by Attack

To reduce the possibility of being caught in a drive-by attack, first delete any superfluous browser plug-ins, as these are sometimes utilized in such attacks. Use a web browser with privacy and security as a priority, such as Brave, or install an ad blocker. Removing Java and JavaScript from the browser would increase security, but it will also restrict the browser's capabilities. Remembering to avoid using a privileged account when browsing the web is always a smart idea.

Cross-site Scripting (XSS) Attacks

Cross-site scripting is a challenging subject that calls for a fundamental grasp of HTML and JavaScript as well as other web development principles and technology. However, in plain English, the methods used to stop XSS attacks are comparable to those that stop SQL injection attacks. You must make sure that every input is correctly sanitized to prevent attackers from injecting harmful scripts into websites. Make sure that your website does not display any unique characters that visitors type.

Password Attack

A strong password policy and the usage of Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) wherever practical are the first steps in combating password attacks. Conducting penetration testing is another smart move to find weaknesses. Make use of a real-time auditing program that can keep an eye out for and react to unauthorized login attempts.

Eavesdropping Attacks

Similar to MITM attacks, the most effective defense against eavesdropping attacks is to make sure that all sensitive data is encrypted both at rest and while being sent. The use of firewalls, VPNs, and anti-malware programs is crucial in preventing such attacks. Considering segmenting your network and moving to a zero-trust architecture where all incoming packets must prove their identity. Utilize an intrusion prevention system to keep an eye out for erroneous traffic on your network and to block any packets with fake addresses. Employees need to be appropriately trained to spot phishing efforts since many eavesdropping attacks use malware to infiltrate communication channels.

IoT-Based Attacks

IoT devices are frequently networked, therefore it's easy for an attack to propagate to additional devices if one device is hacked. Even worse, IoT devices barely have any built-in security, making them an ideal target for attackers. In addition to taking normal security precautions, you should make sure that you modify the router's default settings, use a strong password, unplug IoT devices when not in use, and make sure they have the most recent patches and updates loaded.

System-based attacks

These are the types of cyber attacks that aim to harm a computer system or computer network. The following are some significant system-based attacks:

Malware

Malware infection prevention is a difficult endeavor that necessitates a multifaceted strategy. The bare minimum that you must do is

• Ensure that you have installed the most up-to-date anti-malware and spam protection software.
• Make sure that everyone on your staff is taught to spot phishing emails and websites.
• Maintain a robust password policy and, where appropriate, implement multi-factor authentication.
• Update and patch all of your software.
• Administrator accounts should only be used under dire circumstances.
• Control system and data access, and carefully follow the least-privilege concept.
• Keep an eye out for malicious activities on your network, such as unusual file encryption, inbound/outbound network traffic, performance problems, etc.