The threat of cybersecurity attacks is increasing, whether it’s from terrorists, hackers, or bored people. A lot of security incidents happen because of ignorance of the common types of cybersecurity attacks which is why it’s important that people are informed. With that in mind, listed here are some cybersecurity attacks that you should look out for.
1. Malware
Malware is a general term for any kind of malicious software, from Trojan viruses to worms. It is intended to disable or inflict damage on computers and steal data. There are several types of malware, including adware, bots, bugs, Trojans, rootkits, viruses, worms, and spyware.
A recent example of a malware attack is Emotet, an advanced banking Trojan virus that primarily functions as a downloader for other banking Trojans. It is spread through spam emails and is designed to look like a legitimate email.
2. Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malware that restricts access to your computer or threatens to publish your data unless you pay a ransom.
WannaCry is an example of ransomware. It is a worm that spread quickly through several computer networks in May 2017 and struck a number of high-profile systems, including the British National Health Service. Like Emotet, it is spread through spam emails.
3. Advanced Persistent Threat (APT)
The point of an advanced persistent threat (APT) attack is to steal data rather than cause damage to the network or organization. It is meant to be stealthy, as it aims to gain access to a network and remain undetected for a prolonged period.
An example of an APT attack was done by the group Deep Panda in 2015. It compromised more than four million US personnel records and may have also stolen information pertaining to the United States Secret Service.
4. Crimeware or Phishing Kits
Crimeware is a type of malware that is designed specifically for cybercrime. A lot of spyware programs and keyloggers are considered crimeware.
A common type of crimeware is the phishing kit, which is a collection of tools already assembled to make it easier for people to create phishing exploits. Phishing kits usually contain website development software with graphics, coding, and content that can be used to make imitations of legitimate sites, as well as spamming software that will automate the mass mailing process.
5. Haxposure
Haxposure is short for hack and exposure and is an emerging cyber threat. It is a combination of criminal data theft that was done via hacking and a public exposure of internal secrets. An example of haxposure is the Ashley Madison data breach in July 2015, wherein the personal information of the site’s userbase was copied and released into the public.
6. Denial-of-Service (DoS)
A denial-of-service attack (DoS attack) is a cybersecurity attack where the victim’s machine or network becomes unusable because it has been flooded with traffic that it cannot handle. A DoS attack can cost the victim a lot of time and money.
An example of a DoS attack is when the hacktivist collective Anonymous launched Project Chanology in 2008. This attack targeted the Church of Scientology and employed numerous other offensives in addition to the DoS attack, such as leaking Scientology documents online, pranks, pickets, and information campaigns.
These security incidents can cause serious harm. Luckily, software like ServiceNow is there to help with cybersecurity incident management. However, prevention is always better than a cure – if you don’t want to deal with these six common security incidents, always be wary of the things that you see online.
