A cyberattack is an intentional attempt by an individual or group to infiltrate another organization's or individual's information systems. The primary objective is often to gain some advantage by disrupting the target's network or systems.
How Frequently Do Cyberattacks Happen?
Cyberattacks are a daily occurrence for businesses worldwide. Former Cisco CEO John Chambers famously stated, “There are two types of companies: those that have been hacked, and those who don’t know it yet.” Cisco's Annual Cybersecurity Report noted that the number of cyber incidents surged almost four times from January 2016 to October 2017.
Why Do Cyberattacks Happen?
Cybercrime continues to grow as attackers exploit weak business systems for personal gain. Many cybercriminals are motivated by financial rewards, with 53% of cyberattacks resulting in losses of $500,000 or more. However, some cyberattacks, driven by ulterior motives, aim to destroy systems and data for ideological reasons, commonly known as "hacktivism."
What Is a Botnet?
A botnet refers to a group of devices infected with malicious software, which hackers control remotely, often without the owners’ knowledge. Botnets are frequently used to amplify the scale of attacks, such as in distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, where large volumes of traffic overwhelm systems.
Common Types of Cyberattacks
Malware
Malware is a general term for harmful software, including spyware, ransomware, viruses, and worms. It often enters a system through vulnerabilities when users click on dangerous links or open infected email attachments. Once inside, malware can:
- Block access to key network components (ransomware)
- Install additional malicious software
- Steal sensitive data (spyware)
- Disrupt systems and cause malfunctions
Phishing
Phishing involves sending deceptive communications, often appearing legitimate, to trick individuals into providing sensitive information like login credentials or payment details. Phishing is commonly carried out via email and has become an increasingly prevalent cyberthreat.
Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attack
MitM attacks occur when a hacker intercepts communications between two parties, allowing them to steal data or manipulate the interaction. These attacks often take place on unsecured public Wi-Fi or when malware has compromised a device, enabling attackers to eavesdrop on information shared.
Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attack
In a DoS attack, systems, servers, or networks are overwhelmed with traffic, causing them to slow down or become unavailable for legitimate users. Attackers can amplify this by using multiple infected devices in what’s called a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack.
SQL Injection
SQL injection occurs when an attacker inserts malicious code into a database query to force a server to reveal sensitive information. Attackers often exploit vulnerabilities in website search fields to carry out this attack, accessing data that would otherwise remain protected.
Zero-Day Exploit
A zero-day exploit targets newly discovered vulnerabilities in software before a patch is released. Attackers act quickly to exploit the weakness before developers can implement a fix, making constant monitoring essential for defense against zero-day threats.
DNS Tunneling
DNS tunneling involves using the DNS protocol to transmit unauthorized data over port 53, typically disguising malicious traffic as normal DNS requests. While DNS tunneling can be legitimate, it is also used by attackers to exfiltrate data from a compromised system or communicate with a controlled device for further attacks.
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