What Are Common Types Of Cybersecurity Attacks?

Cybersecurity 101: The Top Common Cybersecurity Attacks

Now that you understand a cyber attack let’s look at some of the most common attacks. By being aware of these cyber threats, you can take steps to protect your business from them.

Phishing Attacks

One of the most common types of cybersecurity attacks is phishing. Phishing occurs when an attacker sends an email or other communication that appears to be from a trusted source. This type of attack aims to trick the recipient into clicking on a malicious link or attachment. Once clicked, the malware in the link or attachment can infect the victim’s system. Phishing attacks often steal login credentials or install ransomware on a system.

There are several phishing attacks, but the most common are spear phishing and whaling. Spear phishing usually targets specific individuals or organizations, while whaling attacks target high-level executives. These attacks are often more successful because they appear to come from a trusted source. Another type of phishing attack is pharming. Pharming occurs when an attacker redirects a victim to a fake website that looks identical to the real one. The victim is then tricked into entering their login credentials or other sensitive information on the fake site.

You should educate your employees about this threat to protect your business from phishing attacks. Teach your staff how to spot a phishing email and how to avoid being infected. You should also have a robust spam filter to prevent these emails from reaching your inbox. Finally, never click links or attachments from unknown sources. 

Malware Attacks

Malware is short for malicious software. It refers to any software designed to attack or harm a system. When your system is infected, it can cause damage or steal sensitive information.

Malware can be installed on your company system in several ways, including phishing email attachments, drive-by downloads, and malicious websites. There are many types of malware, but some of the most common are viruses, worms, Trojans, ransomware, and spyware.

Viruses are programs that attach themselves to other files and spread throughout an operating system. Worms are similar to viruses but can spread without attaching themselves to other files. They can spread quickly through networks and cause Denial of Service (DoS) attacks. Trojans are programs that appear to be harmless but can contain malware. This malware is often used to install ransomware or spyware on a system.

Ransomware is malware that encrypts a victim’s files and holds them for ransom until the victim pays the attacker. At the same time, spyware is malware that collects sensitive information from a victim’s system. The hacker will then attempt to sell the sensitive information to the highest bidder on the dark web.

Malware attacks can have serious impacts on businesses. They can lead to data loss, system downtime, and reputational damage. You should have a robust antivirus program to protect your business from malware attacks. It would help if you also educated your employees about the dangers of clicking on links and attachments from unknown sources. You should regularly back up your data to prevent data loss in an attack. And finally, you should protect every computer on an application level. 

SQL Injection Attacks

SQL injection attacks are another common type of cyber attack. This attack occurs when an attacker inserts malicious code into an SQL database. The hacker can then use this code to view or change sensitive information in the database.

It would help if you used parameterized queries to protect your business from SQL injection attacks. This type of query can help to prevent SQL code from being executed. You should also regularly update your software and patch any security vulnerabilities. 

Denial of Service Attacks

A Denial of Service (DoS) attack is a type of cyber attack that aims to make a system unavailable. The attacker does this by flooding the system with traffic or requests, so it can’t handle the amount of traffic and crashes. DoS attacks can cause downtime and lead to lost revenue for businesses.

There are two types of DoS attacks: distributed and flooding. A distributed DoS attack (DDoS) is an attack that comes from multiple sources. A flooding DoS attack comes from a single source but uses more traffic than a normal request.

Having a robust firewall can help to protect your business from DoS attacks. You should monitor your network for suspicious activity and block any malicious traffic.

Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks

A man-in-the-middle (MitM) attack is another type of cyber attack where the attacker intercepts communication between two parties. The attacker can then view or change the information in the communication. MitM attacks can steal login credentials, financial information, and other sensitive data.

This type of attack aims to get between a user’s device and the network by exploiting security flaws in the network, such as an unprotected public WiFi connection. The danger with this type of assault is that it is tough to spot since the victim thinks the data is going to a legitimate place. MitM attacks are frequently used in phishing or malware assaults.

There are several ways to protect your business from MitM attacks. You should use encryption when transmitting sensitive information. Verifying the identities of the person you’re communicating with will also help. 

Password Attacks

A password attack is a cyber-attack where an attacker tries to guess a user’s password. The attacker uses various methods to guess the password, such as brute force or dictionary attacks. Password attacks can lead to data breaches and loss of sensitive information.

To protect your business from password attacks, you should use strong passwords that are difficult to guess. Always use two-factor authentication (TFA) to verify the identity of users. And finally, you should regularly update your passwords and never reuse them. 

Credential Reuse Attacks

A credential reuse attack is a cyber-attack where an attacker uses stolen login credentials to gain access to other accounts. The attacker can use these credentials to view or change sensitive information. Credential reuse attacks can lead to data breaches and loss of confidential information.

It would help if you never reused passwords to protect your business from credential-reuse attacks. It would help if you also used two-factor authentication (TFA) to verify the identity of users. And finally, you should regularly update your software and patch any security vulnerabilities.

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Attacks

An XSS or cross-site scripting is a cyber attack that injects malicious code into a web page. This code can be Javascript executed by the victim’s browser but can also include Flash, HTML, and other types of scripts. The hackers can then use this code to hijack the user’s session or steal sensitive information. Hackers can also use XSS attacks to redirect users to malicious websites.

It would help if you validated all user input to protect your business from XSS attacks. It would help if you also escaped any special characters in the input. And finally, you should never include untrusted data on your web pages.

Insider Threat Attacks

An insider threat attack is a cyber attack that an employee or contractor carries out. These attacks can be difficult to detect since the attacker has legitimate access to the system. Insider threat attacks can lead to data breaches and loss of sensitive information.

To protect your business from insider threat attacks, you should monitor user activity and look for suspicious behavior. It would help if you also restricted access to sensitive data and systems. And finally, you should have a comprehensive security policy in place.

Zero-Day Exploit Attacks

A zero-day exploit is a type of cyber attack that uses a previously unknown security vulnerability. These attacks can be difficult to defend against since the vulnerability is unknown. Zero-day exploits can lead to data breaches and loss of sensitive information.

To protect your business from zero-day exploits, you should keep your software up to date and patch any security vulnerabilities. It would help if you also used antivirus software, application fencing, and firewalls to block malicious traffic. 

Internet of Things (IoT) Attacks

An IoT or Internet of Things attack is a cyber attack that targets devices that are connected to the internet. These devices can include routers, printers, webcams, and other devices. IoT attacks can lead to data breaches and loss of sensitive information.

To protect your business from IoT attacks, you should only use trusted devices and never connect untrusted devices to your network. Strong passwords and two-factor authentication (TFA) can help secure these devices. And finally, you should regularly update the firmware on these devices.

Spoofing Attacks

Spoofing is a cyber-attack where an attacker impersonates another user or entity. The attacker can use this to access sensitive information or carry out other malicious activities. Spoofing attacks can be difficult to detect and lead to data breaches and loss of confidential information.

To protect your business from spoofing attacks, you should verify the identity of users before granting them access to your systems. It would help if you also used two-factor authentication (TFA) to verify the identity of users. 

Cryptojacking Attacks

Lastly, cryptojacking is a cyber-attack where an attacker uses your computer to mine cryptocurrency. The attacker can do this by injecting malicious code into your web browser or installing malware on your system. Cryptojacking can lead to a slowdown of your computer and higher electricity bills.

To protect your business from cryptojacking, you should use antivirus software, application fencing, and firewalls to block malicious traffic. It would help if you also used ad blockers and pop-up blockers to prevent the execution of malicious code.