Most Common Types of Cyberattacks

Phishing attacks are one of the most common and deceptively simple form of cyberattack. In a phishing attack, attackers pretend to be a legitimate source often through emails or messages, these messages will usually contain malicious links used to streal a user’s sensitive information. Phishing attacks also come in many forms such as Spear.

Malware which is short for malicious software and is designed to infiltrate and damage or control a system without user consent. Malware is a broad term and has many varieties which includes viruses, Trojans, spyware, and ransomware. Once malware infects a device, it can spread quickly, corrupting files, stealing sensitive data, or disrupting normal functions.

Ransomware encrypts data on a victim’s device and demands a ransom payment for its release. Ransomware has become a popular form of a cyberattack for attackers to use when targeting critical sectors, such as the healthcare or finance sectors due to their reliance on data continuity. Ransomware is usually shared using malicious links that can be sent in a phishing email or even a link on a spoofed website.

DoS and DDoS attacks are malicious and targeted attacks that floods the target’s network with false requests to overwhelm them with excessive traffic, rendering websites or servers inaccessible. Unlike DoS attacks, which originate from a single source, DDoS attacks use multiple systems to intensify the impact. These attacks are especially harmful for e-commerce businesses, as the downtime can result in lost sales, diminished customer trust, and reputational damage.

A man-in-the-middle attack aims to intercept and alter communications between two targets, allowing attackers to eavesdrop or inject malicious code without detection. These attacks often occur on unsecured public Wi-Fi networks where users connect without sufficient protection. By impersonating one or both parties, attackers can gain access to private conversations, sensitive information or initiate a transfer of funds.

SQL injection attacks target web applications that rely on SQL databases, manipulating code vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to the database. This technique allows attackers to view, modify, or delete sensitive data, posing serious security threats to companies that store customer information online. 

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks involve injecting malicious scripts into trusted websites. When users visit these sites, their browsers execute the harmful script, allowing the attackers to manipulate web content or steal data from the user’s session. XSS attacks primarily affect users visiting websites with poor security practices. 

Zero-day exploits capitalize on vulnerabilities in software or hardware that are unknown to the vendor and therefore unpatched. These attacks are particularly dangerous as they strike before security teams can respond with fixes. Zero-day vulnerabilities can remain hidden for months or even years, putting sensitive systems and data at risk from targeted attacks until the vendor issues a security patch.