Types of Cyber Attacks:

What is a Cyber Attack?

If there is an unauthorized network/system access for a third party that is referred to as a cyber attack. Anyone who is responsible for the cyberattack is referred to as a hacker or attacker. Cyber attacks can have a variety of negative consequences. When a cyber attack is executed, it could cause data breaches that result with data disappearance and data manipulation. Businesses suffer financial losses, customer confidence is impacted and reputational damage. To reduce the risk of cyberattacks, we employ cybersecurity. Cybersecurity is the process to protect computers, networks, and their parts from unauthorized digital access.

Types of Cyber Attacks:

There are a variety of cyberattacks that are occurring all over the world. If we understand the various kinds of cyberattacks, it becomes much easier to safeguard our systems and networks against these types of attacks.

Let's begin with the various kinds of cyberattacks that are that are on our list:

1. Malware Attack:

It is among the most popular kinds of cyberattacks. "Malware" refers to malicious software viruses such as worms, ransomware, spyware, adware and trojans. It is a Trojan virus disguises itself as legitimate software. Ransomware prevents access to networks' most important components, whereas Spyware is a software that steals your private data without your consent. Adware software displays advertisements material such as banners and advertisements on the screen of a user. Malware infiltrates networks through an vulnerability. If a user clicks on the link that is risky and will download an attachment to email, or when a corrupted pen drive is utilized.

2. SQL Injection Attack:

The Structured Query Language ( SQL) injection attack is carried out on a database-driven site when a hacker alters an ordinary SQL query.

The attack is carried out through the injection of malicious code into a web search box, forcing the server to reveal important details. This payoff an attacker being in a position to edit, view the tables and even delete them from the databases. In addition, attackers can gain access to administrative rights via this.

3.Denial of Service ( DoS ) Attack:

An attack known as a denial of service (DoS) attacks can be used to overload the system's resources to the point that it cannot respond to legitimate requests for service. An DoS-related attack is created by a variety of host computers infected with malware that are operated by attackers. These are known by the term "denial of service" attacks because the site that is targeted cannot help in providing services to those who wish to connect to it.

DoS attack, the targeted site is inundated with fraudulent requests. Because the site needs to respond to every request, its resources are consumed by all responses. This renders it inaccessible to the site to provide users with services in the way it usually does.

DoS attacks differ from other cyberattacks, which allow hackers to gain access to the system or rise the amount of access they already have. In these attacks they directly benefit from their work. In DoS attacks against networks On the other hand the goal is to interfere with the performance of the service being targeted. When the attack is employed by a competitor of a business the attacker could gain financially by their efforts.

4. Phishing Attacks:

A phishing attack occurs when a malicious actor sends emails that seem to be coming from trusted, legitimate sources in an attempt to grab sensitive information from the target. Phishing attacks combine social engineering and technology and are so-called because the attacker is, in effect, “fishing” for access to a forbidden area by using the “bait” of a seemingly trustworthy sender.

To execute the attack, the bad actor may send a link that brings you to a website that then fools you into downloading malware such as viruses, or giving the attacker your private information. The target may not realize they have been compromised, which allows the attacker to go after others in the same organization without anyone suspecting malicious activity.

5.URL Interpretation:

Through URL interpretation attackers alter and then fabricate specific URL addresses, and then make use of these URLs for a way to procure access to a target's individual as well as well-qualified data. This type of attack is often called URL poisoning. The term "URL interpretation" comes from the reality that the attacker understands the sequence that a webpage's URL information should be entered. In turn, the attacker "interprets" this syntax, together it to discover ways to procure access to areas they don't have access to.

To carry out an URL interpreter attack, a hacker could be able to guess URLs they could utilize to acquire access to administrator rights on the site or access the backend of the site to acquire access to the user's account.

For example, if a hacker attempts to get into the admin section of a site called GetYourKnowledgeOn.com, they may type in http://getyourknowledgeon.com/admin, and this will bring them to an admin login page. In certain cases admin usernames and password might appear to be default "admin" and "admin" or extremely easy to figure out. A hacker may have already discovered the admin's password, or reduced it to some possible options. The attacker then attempts each password, gain access, and is able to modify, steal, or erase data anytime.

6.Session Hijacking:

Session hijacking is just one of different kinds of MITM attacks. The attacker is able to take over an existing session between a user and server. The computer used in the attack replaces the Internet Protocol (IP) address for the IP address of the client's computer and the server then keeps the session running without noticing that it's communicating with attacker, instead of the client. This type of attack is successful because the server utilizes the IP address of the user to confirm its identity. When the IP address of an attacker is entered in the middle of a connection, then the server might not be able to detect a breach since it's already in an authentic connection.

To avoid session hijacking, make use of to protect yourself from session hijacking, you must use a VPN to access servers of business importance. So, all communications is secured, so an attacker will be unable to procure an access point to the secured channel created through the VPN.

7.DNS Spoofing:

Through Domain Name System (DNS) spoofing, a hacker modifies DNS records to redirect traffic to fake (or "spoofed" website. When a victim is on the fake site the victim can input sensitive data that could be sold or used to the shopper. Hackers may also create low-quality websites with offensive or offensive material so as to render a rival company appear unprofessional.

DNS spoofing attack the attacker can take advantage from the reality that a user believes that the website that they're on is legitimate. This allows the attacker to commit crime under the name of a legitimate business in the perspective of the customer.

To avoid DNS Spoofing, make sure you assure that your DNS servers are up-to-date. The attackers seek to exploit vulnerabilities in DNS servers. The latest software versions usually contain fixes that fix known security holes.

8. Password Attacks:

Passwords are the authentication method used by the majority of people, therefore figuring out the password of a person's target is a tempting option for hackers. It can be accomplished with various methods. A lot of people save the passwords of their loved ones on pieces of paper, sticky notes on their desks. A hacker can find the password on their own or pay someone inside to steal the password for them.

An attacker could also attempt to intercept network messages to steal passwords that are not secured by networks. They may also employ social engineering to convince the victim to enter their password to resolve the seemingly "important" problem. In other instances an attacker could make up the password of the user in particular if they are using an common password that's simple to remember, such as "1234567."

Password hack makes use of basic information about an individual or their position in order to determine their password. For instance the name, birthdate or anniversary date, or any other details that are personal and easy to find could be used in a variety of combinations to figure out their password. Information posted by users on social media could be used in a brute force password hack. What people do to have fun, their hobbies and pet names or the names of children can be used to create passwords, which makes them difficult to deduce for brute force attackers.

9. Ransomware Attack:

When you install Ransomware that is installed, the victim's system is locked up until they pay an amount of ransom to the attacker. After the payment is made, the attacker gives instructions on how the victim can gain control of their system. The term "ransomware" is appropriate because the malware demands a ransom payment from the victim.

In the case of a ransomware attack in which the target downloads the ransomware either through an online site or within the email attached. The malware is designed to exploit weaknesses which haven't been fixed by the system's maker or the IT department. The ransomware then locks the workstation of the victim. Sometimes, ransomware may be used to target several parties by blocking access to a number of servers or computers vital for business operations.

Inflicting damage to many PCs is typically achieved by avoiding initiating systems in the days or weeks after initial attack. When the attacker initiates encryption process, it affects all of the affected systems simultaneously.

10. Whale Phishing Attacks:

The name "whale phishing" comes because it targets those who are the "big fish" or whales of an organization. These usually include people who are in the C-suite, or other positions who are in charge of the business. They are most likely to have details that are useful to hackers, including confidential information regarding the business or its activities.

If an individual "whale" downloads ransomware, they are more likely to pay the ransom in order to stop the news about the successful attack from coming out, and causing damage to their reputation or that of their organization. The threat of whale-phishing can be thwarted through the use of similar types of precautions to ward off scams, like paying attention to emails and attachments as well as hyperlinks that accompany them and keeping an eye out for suspicious websites or the parameters.

11. Web Attacks:

Web Attacks are a type of threat which target weaknesses that are present in applications implemented via the web. When you input information in a web-based application, you're initiating an action that triggers an answer. For instance, if transfer money to a person together the internet banking app The data you input instructs the application to access your account, withdraw the money and then transfer the money to another account. Attackers operate within the contexts of these types of requests and utilize these to their advantage.

Web-based security threats include SQL injection as well as cross-site scripting (XSS), which will be discussed in the next section of this article. Hackers can also make use of Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) attack and parameter alteration. In the case of a CSRF attack the victim is tricked to perform an action which benefits the attacker. For instance, they could click on a link that opens the script that is designed to alter the login credentials used to access a website application. The hacker, with updated login information, could enter the application as if they were a authentic user.

12. Drive By Attacks:

In a drive-by attack hackers insert malicious code on an unsecure website. If a user goes to the website, the code runs automatically on their computer, causing infection to the computer. The term "drive by" comes from the fact that a victim just needs the choice to "drive by" the site by visiting it in order to become infected. There is no requirement to click anything on the website or input any data.

To guard against attacks by drive-by users must ensure they have the latest version of software on all their devices which includes programs like Adobe Acrobat and Flash, which can be utilized while browsing the web. Additionally, you can utilize web-filtering software that can identify if a website is unsafe prior to the time a user even visits it.

13. Eavesdropping Attacks:

Eavesdropping attacks involve a malicious actor who intercepts data as it travels via the networks. In this manner an attacker could collect passwords, usernames, and other private information, such as credit cards. Eavesdropping can be either active or passive.

Active eavesdropping is when the hacker installs the software in the network's traffic stream to gather information which the hacker sifts through to find useful data. The passive eavesdropping attack is distinct in the sense that hackers "listens in," or listens in, or and is looking for valuable data they could take.

Active and passive listening are two forms of MITM attacks. The desirable ways to prevent them is to secure your data and preventing it from being accessed by hackers no matter whether or not they employ active or passive listening.

14. Zero-Day Exploit:

The Zero-Day Exploit occurs following the public announcement of an internet vulnerability and there is no solution to the vulnerability in all instances. Therefore, the vendor informs of the vulnerability to warrant that users are aware. However the news is also sent to the attackers.

Depending on the vulnerability either the developer or the vendor may take any length of time to address the problem. In the meantime, attackers are focusing on the vulnerability that was disclosed. They will exploit the vulnerability long before a patch is developed to address it.

15. Insider Threat:

The name implies that an insider threat is not likely to require a third party, but rather an insider. In this scenario, it could be a person inside the company who is aware of everything that happens within the company. Insider threats are able to cause huge damage.

Insider threats are prevalent in small-sized businesses, because employees have the access rights to many accounts that contain data. The motives behind this kind of attack are numerous including malicious motives, greed or even recklessness. Intruder threats are difficult to anticipate and therefore difficult.