What is a cyber attack? Cyber attacks come in many forms, like phishing or malware. They mainly target user data, such as sensitive information.
A cyber attack is an attempt to use security breaches to disable computers and steal data. Cybercriminals can perform cyber attacks using malware, phishing, the man in the middle, and more. Cyber attackers can act individually. Hackers who do not work alone are part of an organized group. They constantly scan for vulnerabilities and infiltrate systems, making their attacks successful.
What is Cyber Attack?
Cyber attack refers to attacks on computer systems to access and steal data without permission. Attackers do not have a single cyber attack method. The situation that allows the attack is usually caused by the natural structure of the system.
The goal of a cyber attacker is always to steal something or change it in his favor. The target usually includes personal data and other sensitive information. The simplest form of cyber attack is to infect the target system with malware.
As long as organizations keep their critical data online, they can be the target of cyber attacks. Getting support from information security experts to take precautions against cyber attacks is necessary. The support should not be limited to the risk method only.
What are the Most Common Types of Cyber Attacks?
The reasons and motivations for cyber attacks are different. The majority of cyber attacks around the world are carried out by nations. Russians or Americans targeting infrastructures belonging to other countries are the most important examples of cyber attacks of nations.
1. Denial of Service Attacks
A denial of service attack is a type of cyber attack that allows a malicious person to make the system unusable. More than one traffic is directed to the target system simultaneously. The system shuts down for a short time due to overload.
A denial of service attack can be made using a single computer. When done through a botnet, it is called a distributed denial of service attack. The difference between attack types is all about procedures, but the target may be the same.
2. Man-in-the-Middle Attacks
In man-in-the-middle attacks, the communication between the user and the system he interacts with is overheard. By introducing himself as one of the parties, the attacker can ensure the success of his attack. The purpose of the attack is to capture sensitive information.
The information obtained by the man-in-the-middle attack can be used for many purposes, including identity theft. It can also be a tool to circumvent other security measures. Awareness of cyber security is essential to protect from these attacks.
3. Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks are cyber attacks to steal sensitive user information. The attacker pretends to be trustworthy, allowing the user to interact with the message. After the user’s interaction, the system is infected with malware.
Phishing attacks can be powerful. They are often part of more significant attacks. So, they guide the attacker to overcome the security limits. The reputation of the organization affected by the attack is adversely affected. At the same time, the organization may experience financial losses.
4. Email Spoofing
Email spoofing is an attack by sending a fake email. Misleading information is entered in the subject area. The goal is to get the user to open the email and keep interacting. Then, other cyber attacks, such as phishing, can occur.
Fake emails can mean users are easily fooled. It is possible to implement the method as there is no authentication by SMTP. Different protocols can be used to combat the email spoofing method.
5. Leveraging Exploits
Leveraging exploits is one of the most popular types of cyber attacks. It relates to unauthorized access to sensitive data. Also, there is an exploitation of vulnerabilities in software or script. It is much more sensitive than other methods.
This type of cyber attack cannot be applied if there is no security vulnerability in any system. Vulnerable systems are priority targets. The fact that developers do not control the system is one of the most critical factors that can cause security vulnerabilities.
6. Cross-Site Scripting
Cross-site scripting is a cross-site cyber attack method. The vulnerable point is used, and malicious code is injected. The target is not the application or the system itself. Instead, users who use the system are targeted.
The consequences of cross-site scripting attacks can be devastating. Depending on the size of the attack, users’ accounts can be compromised. In some cases, the information in the system is changed. Even session cookies can be revealed thanks to the injected codes.
7. Brute-Force Attacks
Brute-force attacks are prevalent. They are performed to gain unauthorized access to a system. It is a simple but effective attack method for guessing usernames and passwords. If the conditions are met, the success rate is high.
Attackers use specific applications and commands as brute-force tools. Too many password combinations are used at the same time. Thus, to gain access to a particular system, the users’ session information is captured.
You can take different measures to protect yourself from cyber attacks. Creating strong passwords is the most straightforward step you can take. It will help if you have the plan to prevent cyber attacks. You can learn about potential threats and become more aware.