INTRODUCTION
Cyber security attacks are deliberate act planned for the sole purpose of negatively impacting the confidentiality, integrity or availability of the computer system, network or data. While more and more people, companies, and organizations turn to the use of digital assets as a tool for accomplishing their tasks, these attacks become more elaborate and can be of vastly different natures. Malware and phishing are some of the most well-known COTA varieties.
Others are ransomware and denial of service (DoS) attack. Malware is coded software, specifically designed to enter a system and then cause harm whereas phishing is an attempt to lure users into surrendering valuable data. While ransomware locks down the data of PC users by encrypting it and requesting the payment be made in the form of bitcoins, DoS attacks flood computer systems with requests that they cannot handle.
The effects of cyber security attacks are far reaching in that it results in loss of money for users, dent on the reputation of users and attract prosecution in some cases. Developing a strong cyber defense as a priority goal for the present and future becomes an indisputable necessity due to profiled cyber security attacks on large companies and state organizations. These cyber security attacks are becoming more frequent, and it is necessary for stakeholders to implement protection measures, create awareness within its employees and be up to date with risks. These distinctions are important in comprehending the of cyber security attacks and developing a greater framework for the security of all people online.
WHAT ARE CYBER SECURITY ATTACKS?
Cyber security attacks are purposeful, uninvited intrusions on the assets of an organization. These attacks are aimed at unauthorized access to confidential data or at the destruction of computer and / or other related services. Cyber criminals use multipurpose methods to perpetrate a crime with some of the most used model being malware, phishing, ransomware, and DoS attacks.
Malware refers to a category of subversive applications that seek to enter a system and cause harm, and phishing refers to fraudulent e-mail or Web sites aimed at extracting information of the victim. Ransomware is a notorious malware-as-a-service that holds data belonging to a targeted victim captive in exchange for a specific amount of money. DoS attacks overwhelm a network with tremendous traffic so that it becomes more or less unusable by the intended users.
These attacks have dire implications making victims lose their money, at times are disgraced publicly and can face the law. Publicized cases bring attention to how much is depended on the cyber security attacks of organizations. Alphameric attack remains fluid in nature, and as cyber security attacks advanced so must our knowledge base on how such cyber security attacks occur and the extent of damage they cause. In this way, with the systematic prevention of these threats, different stakeholders will try to drive away possible incidents inherent in the activity of cyber criminals.
TYPES OF CYBER SECURITY ATTACKS
Cyber security attacks on the other hand come in different types, all of them dependent on weak points in systems, networks and even people. Awareness of these different types is indispensable toward improving the cyber security systems in place.
Malware Attacks
Of all types of cyber security attacks, malware is the most common; it comprises hostile software that is engineered to gain unauthorized access to and harm systems. This category includes several subtypes, for example, viruses – self-copying programs that insert themselves into files and then transmit themselves. Unlike viruses, the worms can move across networks on their own, without having to use a host file. Another popular variety is the Trojan, which seems to be legitimate program or application routine containing concealed code for adverse control by the attacker.
There are numerous types of cyber security attacks: ransomware, which compares files and makes the victim pay for a decryption key. In the same case, spyware follows up on the users’ activities without permission and collects personal data, and adware creates pop-ups and can lead the users to other suspicious web pages.
Phishing Attacks
Another form of concern cyber security attacks type are the phishing in which the attack intends to lure users into providing them certain details. Phishing is maybe the most common sort of social engineering where the attacker impersonates a reputed organization sending an e-mail or using a web-site that resembles the original one with intent of obtaining usernames and passwords or other valuable information. Phishing has several subtypes.
The most commonly known cyber security attacks are spear phishing entire scams that are designed to target specific people and organizations through using details of the targets to make the scam more believable. Whaling is identified as more advanced style phishing that has a focus on certain individuals in any given organization especially executives, while vishing is a form of phishing devotee of voice and phone calls. Smishing is simply a phishing attempt through short message service commonly known as SMS since people are increasingly using their mobile devices to communicate.
Man in the Middle (MitM) Attacks
Another threat is Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks whereby a malicious party denies honest participants their rightful access as it通信 listens to the communication between two parties. These cyber security attacks are implemented in open WI-FI networks where an attacker can easily intercept or change the data flowing between the sender and the receiver. Likewise, denial of service (DoS) attacks which target a website with flooding traffic to that site with a view of making it inaccessible to genuine users. Distributed Denial of Service attack enhances this threat by using a number of compromised hosts to overwhelm the target to the extent of significantly disrupting its provision of services.
SQL Injection and Cross-Site Scripting
Another popular type of attack is SQL injection, during which users input SQL code into a query in order to gain unauthorized access to a database. This particular cyber security attacks leverages on weak and vulnerable web applications so as to compromise or extort information within the database. The same as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS) attack is of a type where an attacker inserts untrusted scripts to web site’s pages, so that it is possible to execute scripts on the side of the viewer’s browser. This would result into loss of cookies, session tokens or any other sensitive data as generally preferred.
Zero-Day Exploits and Credential Stuffing
There is another type of threat, which is endangering systems that have not been identified by the program’s creator, or zero-day threats. Criminals can capitalize on these vulnerabilities when they are yet to be filled by the developers with patches that provide repair services for the problem. Another popular type of attack is named the credential stuffing when the cybergrief uses the stolen username/password pairs to log into the accounts. Such an approach most of the time pans out because of password recycling especially where MFA is not in the picture.
The two significant risks are the Brute Force Attacks and Social Engineering.
This one tries many different combinations in the hope that the correct password or pass phrase will be guessed. Cyber attackers attempt several usernames and passwords simultaneously in several thousands chances per second, thus improving their probabilities of success. Social engineering attacks uses human factors as its tools; it tricks people into passing valuable information, regardless of security measures put in place. One can differentiate between pretexting, a procedure when an attacker creates a fake scenario in order to get information, and baiting when an attacker offers an individual something he/she wants/needs in exchange for information.
SECURITY MEASURES AGAINST CYBER SECURITY ATTACKS
Since these threats are ever increasing and are too complex organizations should ensure they employ stronger preventive mechanisms and security features for their systems. Business and persons need to employ effective measures to prevent or close up any vulnerability that could lead to cyber security attacks. You might be wondering how to get hold of the best measures which would help in boosting or improving cybersecurity against cyber security attacks.
Strong Password Policies
This area also focuses on password policies that are still one of the most basic yet frequently disregarded aspects of information security. It should be primarily recommended that users develop complicated passwords that combine letters of both cases, numeric numbers, as well as some symbols. However, it is mandatory to take care of password consistency and not use the same password in other accounts. Password managers’ service of generating and storing strong passwords makes it easier and minimizes password breach compared to manual way of handling passwords.
For individuals interested in a system that provides multiple methods of verifying an identity, then the Multifactor Authentication (MFA) can work for you.
What integrated solution is most useful in increasing security is the multifactor authentication where a user has to supply more than one indicator in order to be granted access to an account or a system. This could be something they have such as a password, something they possess like a cell phone or something they are for example fingerprint. MFA reduces vulnerability to access by more than just a stolen or forged password because two forms of passwords are often needed to gain access.
Network Security Measures
In that regard, it becomes very important that organizations deploy a sound network security strategy. Firewalls are security devices located between a secure internal network and the external world, which determine what is allowed or prohibited with regard to incoming or outgoing traffic. The IDPS has the potential in the identification and prevention of intrusions, and likewise of malicious activities. Additionally, the separation of networks can prevent a variety of threats for assets and data, keeping them separate from the rest of the networking system.
Employee Training and Awareness
It of note that the interstellar accidents’ inherent primary cause is human error. It would also pay to conduct training and awareness sessions as often as possible so that employees can be continually reminded of threats that may come their way and ways to prevent them. These include but are not limited to how to differentiate between real and fake email, right way of dealing with organizational data, and the use of passwords. This means, when organizations encourage their people to be more secure, the chances of the attackers being successful reduce drastically.
Data Encryption
Encryption is one of the most effective techniques used to ensure a given data is secure both in transit and even in storage. Encryption of data is intended to ensure that any data which passes through a certain channel ought not to be understandable by anyone apart from the decoder in case it is intercepted or spied. Companies need to require protection sensitive customer data, financial information, and company intellectual property from cyber security attacks.
Incident Response Plan
But the fact remains, even with these measures in place, a cyber security attacks may still be launched. It is therefore important that the organization establishes an incident response plan so that in the event of an cyber security attacks, it is avoided, or if it does occur, the impacts are contained, and the system is repaired quickly.
Organizations need to develop this plan to indicate how to act should a breach occur and the roles and actions of various players, as well as such procedures as informing affected parties and controlling escalation. The credibility of an incident response plan can be established by periodic conducting of tests and update of the plan in case of new threats to an organization.
TOP 5 CYBER SECURITY ATTACKS INCIDENTS
Trends in cyber security attacks pose a major challenge to organizations and individuals affecting financial loss, leakage of confidential data and damage to organizational reputation. Among these events some of them raised eyebrow due to the size and complexity of the attacks and the knowledge gained from them. Below, you will find five examples of the most critical cyber security attacks ever.
1. The Morris Worm (1988)
The worm that could be marked as one of first important worm attacks was created in 1988 by Robert Tappan Morris, the student of Cornell University. Created to test the internet’s weaknesses, the worm was effective, having a reached an estimated 6,000 hosts within two days, while actively working on around 10% of the hosts connected to the internet at that time. The worm targeted UNIX based operating systems causing slowness and more cases crashing of the operating system. A non-malevolent event as this one was triggered shall be the fuel for pushing for the need for better security practice though which gave birth to the Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT).
2. Yahoo Data Breaches, 2013 & 2014
Two rarely seen hacks happened to Yahoo and all three billion accounts were stolen with users’ personal details. The first data breach took place in 2013 and was only revealed in 2016, the second breach happened in 2014, which involved an additional 500 million user accounts. They were able to obtain user names, e-mail address, phone numbers and hashed passwords, which made Yahoo’s credibility drop significantly. The breaches affected not only the users but also Verizon when it decided to buy Yahoo: the final price was decreased to nearly $350 million. This case shows the necessity of having effective security management, data encryption and taking periodic inventory.
3. Global WannaCry Ransomware Attack – 2017
WannaCry is arguably one of the most devastating forms of cyber security attacks in recent past since it paralyzed over 200000 computers withing 150 nations in a single day in the month of May, 2017. The attack used a flaw in the Microsoft Windows operating system to encrypt files and demand payment in Bitcoin to unencrypt them. Some of the organizations affected include.
National Health Service that is from United Kingdom experiencing significant disruption to it’s services. 510 The attack also meant that people should update the software in use, should have incident response plans, and that hackers must be unable to obtain physical access. Microsoft soon came up with a fix for the vulnerability but the attack showed the effects of ransomware on key operations.
4. Equifax Data Breach (2017)
Equifax a credit reporting agency was involved in a data breach in 2017 that compromised private records of 147 million people. The attackers took advantage of the vulnerability on the Apache Struts web application framework that Equifax never updated. Credit card numbers, Social Securities numbers, and birth dates, as well as millions of people’s addresses, suffered identity theft. The Incident led to a major public backlash against Equifax and the company got sued with a follow up of a $700 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission. It is worth to underline that this case gives a clear signal to update the applications on the time and importantly back up the information.
5. Solorigate, SolarWinds Or Talebird Supply Chain Attack in 2020
SolarWinds supply chain attack represents one of the most advanced forms of cyber security attacks to date impacting over thousands of entities including governmental agencies and several Fortune 500 companies. This cyber security attacks was launched when the hackers injected malicious code into the SolarWinds Orion software update that is disseminated to customers. This enabled the attackers to infiltrate and compromise systems, and consequently expose sensitive data in a company. The incident brought some issues concerning supply chain security into question but such concerns as need to perform security evaluation of third party suppliers.
CONCLUSION
Thus, cyber security attacks remain an increasingly prominent threat in our ever more digitalized world. This not only confirms the necessity of the upgraded framework, but also reflects the richness and variety of the cyber security attacks available to malicious users, including malware, phishing, ransomware, and denial-of-service attacks. The effects of such cyber security attacks are always huge and can cost a lot of money, bring a lot of negative press attention and even lead to legal trouble for the people involved as well as the companies in question.
The nature of the threats facing cyber space is changing and as such stakeholders must embrace the culture of practicing cyber security in a manner that involves more than mere adoption of technology. You would always appreciate that awareness and education are vital when creating a culture that avails itself to security, and makes people understand the threats that come around them. Also, several organizations, government organizations, and cybersecurity specialists can join up to improve threat intelligence and coping strategies.
Through studying the types of cyber security attacks threats and taking preventative measures it proves possible to prevent major victimization. Lastly, the establishment of a secure online environment is all important in order to safeguard the information and more so, gaining the confidence of the people in the growing computational age. With so many changes and risks in the technology environment at present, responsibility and care for cybersecurity will remain important for creating a better future against cyber security attacks.
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