What Is A Cyber Attack?
A cyber attack is any attempt by hackers or malicious actors to break into a computer system, network, or digital device in order to steal data, damage systems, gain unauthorized access, or interrupt business operations. These attacks target everything from personal phones to large corporate networks, and the goal is usually financial gain, data theft, espionage, or disruption.
As businesses rely more on technology like cloud platforms, online transactions, automation, and digital communication, cyber attacks have grown more common and more dangerous. Today, cybercrime affects companies of all sizes and industries, costing businesses millions, exposing customer data, and damaging brand trust. Individuals are also at risk, as attackers often steal identities, bank details, and personal information.
The following are the 10 most common and persistent types of cyber attacks you should be aware of
Top 10 cyber attacks
1. Phishing Attacks
Phishing is the most common cyber attack, affecting both individuals and businesses across the world. It happens when cybercriminals pretend to be trusted organizations like banks, popular online stores, delivery companies, or even government agencies just to deceive people into giving away sensitive information.
The attacker’s goal is simply to deceive you into giving up something of value, such as a password, an OTP, card information, or personal information.
These attacks usually come through calls, emails, SMS messages, or direct messages on social media platforms that appear to be entirely legitimate. A phishing message might claim there is a problem with your bank account, a missed delivery, a blocked email login, or a surprise refund waiting for you. Attackers use familiar language, official-looking logos, and links that closely mimic real websites to appear convincing. You are directed to a counterfeit page intended to collect your information as soon as you click the link.
Everything may seem to check out, which is why we have to be very careful before clicking on any links. Some messages also contain attachments that silently install harmful software when opened.
Phishing works so well because it targets human emotions. Hackers know that urgency, fear, excitement, or curiosity can cause people to react quickly without thinking. A message saying “Verify now, or your account will be closed” can push anyone into panic mode. As soon as a victim enters their information or downloads a malicious file, the attacker can access accounts instantly, steal money, reset passwords, or even monitor the device.
For businesses, the consequences are much bigger. One employee clicking a fake link is enough to expose an entire network to attackers. This can lead to data breaches, ransomware infections, financial loss, and major damage to customer trust. That is why employee awareness and strong email security are essential in reducing the success of phishing attempts.
You can prevent phishing attacks from achieving their objectives by thinking carefully about the kinds of emails you open and the links you click on. Pay close attention to email headers, and do not click on anything that looks suspicious. Check the parameters for “Reply-to” and “Return-path.” They need to connect to the same domain presented in the email.
2. Dos attack
Denial-of-Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Attacks
Attacks known as denial-of-service (DoS) and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) happen when hackers purposefully flood a server, website, or online service with so much traffic that it becomes unusable. This deluge of fraudulent requests causes the system to slow down or shut down completely, making it impossible for legitimate users like clients or staff members to use the service.
In a DDoS attack, cybercriminals typically use large networks of infected devices, known as botnets, to send millions of automated requests simultaneously. Because the attack comes from numerous devices at once, it is much harder to stop than a regular DoS attack. The result for businesses can be catastrophic: downtime, lost revenue, reduced productivity, customer dissatisfaction, and long-term damage to reputation.
DoS and DDoS attacks, unlike other cyber attacks, are primarily designed to disrupt rather than steal data or gain unauthorized access. Competitors often hire attackers to temporarily cripple a business, particularly during peak sales periods. Others use DDoS attacks as a smokescreen, overloading the system and distracting IT teams while a more dangerous attack, such as data theft or infiltration, takes place in the background.
DoS and DDoS attacks can also cause weaknesses in systems, leaving them vulnerable to further compromise. When a server crashes or is forced offline, critical security configurations may fail to function properly, allowing attackers to slip in undetected.
Businesses use firewalls, traffic filtering tools, and specialized DDoS protection services to analyze incoming traffic and determine whether it is legitimate. Suspicious or malicious traffic is then blocked before it gets to the server. Network design is also important; understanding how different architectures, such as SD-WAN and MPLS, handle traffic can help businesses build stronger defenses against large-scale attacks.
A real-world example occurred in February 2020, when Amazon Web Services (AWS) suffered one of the largest DDoS attacks ever recorded. Attackers carried out a massive 2.3 terabits-per-second attack, demonstrating how powerful and dangerous DDoS campaigns have become worldwide.
3. Man in the Middle Attacks
Man-in-the-middle attacks are a type of cyber attack where an attacker secretly intercepts and monitors the data being exchanged between two people, computers, or networks. This kind of attack is called man in a man-in-the-middle attack because the criminal places themselves in the middle of the communication path. The two parties believe they are speaking to each other normally, but the attacker is silently watching every message that passes through. In some cases, the attacker even changes the information before it arrives at its destination.
These attacks are especially dangerous because they are nearly invisible. The victim continues their activities as if everything is normal, unaware that their messages, passwords, banking information, or personal data are being intercepted. A man-in-the-middle attack can happen in many ways. Some attackers create fake public WiFi networks with names like Free Airport WiFi or Cafe WiFi. Once a person connects, the attacker can monitor everything they do online. Others use unsecured websites, weak routers, or compromised access points to slip into private conversations and data transfers.
In a typical scenario, the victim sends what they believe is a secure message. The attacker receives it first, reads it, modifies it, and then sends it to the intended recipient. The same happens in reverse. Both sides think they are communicating directly with each other when in reality, the attacker is controlling the entire exchange.
Businesses are major targets of man-in-the-middle attacks because employees often share sensitive information such as login details, financial data, contracts, and confidential messages. One successful attack can expose an entire organization’s data, steal customer information, or even redirect financial transactions.
There are several steps you can take to avoid man-in-the-middle attacks. Always use strong encryption on all access points, particularly corporate networks and WiFi routers. Make sure that every platform and website used by your team is encrypted with the secure padlock symbol in the browser. Encourage employees to avoid public WiFi altogether or to use it in conjunction with a virtual private network, which encrypts traffic and prevents attackers from spying. Regular security audits, updated router firmware, and strict authentication procedures all help to ensure that no one can sneak into your communication channels.
Session hijacking is one of multiple types of MITM attacks. The attacker takes over a session between a client and the server. The computer being used in the attack substitutes its Internet Protocol (IP) address for that of the client computer, and the server continues the session without suspecting it is communicating with the attacker instead of the client. This kind of attack is effective because the server uses the client’s IP address to verify its identity. If the attacker’s IP address is inserted partway through the session, the server may not suspect a breach because it is already engaged in a trusted connection.
To prevent session hijacking, use a VPN to access business-critical servers. This way, all communication is encrypted, and an attacker cannot gain access to the secure tunnel created by the VPN.
4. SQL Injection Attacks
SQL injection is a serious cyber attack that specifically targets websites and applications that rely on databases to function. Many online platforms collect information via login pages, sign-up forms, contact forms, or search bars. If these input fields are not properly protected, attackers may enter malicious commands instead of normal text. The system incorrectly interprets these commands as trusted instructions and executes them within the database.
Once this happens, the attacker can force the database to reveal sensitive information such as usernames, email addresses, stored passwords, and even financial details. In more severe cases, SQL injection enables the hacker to make modifications to the database. They can change records, delete important files, or modify entries in ways that disrupt business operations. Because databases are at the heart of most digital systems, unauthorized access can severely disrupt a company’s internal processes.
Businesses that use customer portals, online booking systems, membership platforms, or e-commerce websites face higher risks because these systems constantly collect and store user data. A single vulnerable form field could expose thousands of customer records. Beyond data theft, an attacker could also damage trust by altering critical information or bringing the system offline.
To reduce the risk of SQL injection, businesses must ensure that their websites validate and sanitize all user inputs before sending them to the database. Using prepared statements, secure coding practices, and regular security testing makes it more difficult for malicious commands to slip through. Access to the database should also adhere to the least privilege model, which means that only authorized individuals or systems can retrieve sensitive data. Businesses can reduce the likelihood of an SQL injection attack causing significant damage by limiting access and strengthening input security.
5 Malware Attacks.
Malware, short for malicious software, refers to any harmful program designed to penetrate, damage, or take control of computers, phones, or entire business networks. Some of the most common types are viruses, worms, trojans, spyware, adware, and keyloggers. Each type behaves differently, but they all serve the same purpose: to harm the user, steal data, or grant cybercriminals unauthorized access.
Malware typically enters a system via risky downloads, compromised websites, infected USB drives, unsafe software cracks, or phishing emails that trick users into clicking on harmful links or attachments. Once inside a device, malware operates silently in the background, often without the user’s knowledge, until significant damage has been done.
Malware, depending on its type, can perform a variety of harmful actions. Keyloggers record everything! You type in passwords and banking information. Spyware secretly monitors your activities and transmits private information to the attacker. Trojans appear to be useful software but actually open a backdoor into your device. Worms replicate quickly, spreading throughout a business network in seconds and overwhelming entire systems. Some malware programs even delete files, corrupt databases, or disable devices entirely.
Malware attacks are especially dangerous in businesses because all devices are typically connected to a single central network. This means that even if a single employee accidentally installs malware, it can quickly spread to servers, shared folders, internal applications, and sensitive company data. The consequences include data theft, financial loss, unauthorized access to customer information, and prolonged downtime that disrupts normal operations.
Strong cybersecurity practices. Employee training, antivirus tools, regular software updates, and strict access control are critical for preventing malware infections before they cause serious damage.
6. Ransomware
With Ransomware, the victim’s system is held hostage until they agree to pay a ransom to the attacker. After the payment has been sent, the attacker then provides instructions regarding how the target can regain control of their computer. The name “ransomware” is appropriate because the malware demands a ransom from the victim.
In a ransomware attack, the target downloads ransomware, either from a website or from within an email attachment. The malware is written to exploit vulnerabilities that have not been addressed by either the system’s manufacturer or the IT team. The ransomware then encrypts the target’s workstation. At times, ransomware can be used to attack multiple parties by denying access to either several computers or a central server essential to business operations.
Affecting multiple computers is often accomplished by not initiating systems captivation until days or even weeks after the malware’s initial penetration. The malware can send AUTORUN files that go from one system to another via the internal network or Universal Serial Bus (USB) drives that connect to multiple computers. Then, when the attacker initiates the encryption, it works on all the infected systems simultaneously.
In some cases, ransomware authors design the code to evade traditional antivirus software. It is therefore important for users to remain vigilant regarding which sites they visit and which links they click. You can also prevent many ransomware attacks by using a next-generation firewall (NGFW) that can perform deep data packet inspections using artificial intelligence (AI) that looks for the characteristics of ransomware.
7. Password attacks
Passwords are the access verification tool of choice for most people, so figuring out a target’s password is an attractive proposition for a hacker. This can be done using a few different methods. Often, people keep copies of their passwords on pieces of paper or sticky notes around or on their desks. An attacker can either find the password themselves or pay someone on the inside to get it for them.
An attacker may also try to intercept network transmissions to grab passwords not encrypted by the network. They can also use social engineering, which convinces the target to input their password to solve a seemingly “important” problem. In other cases, the attacker can simply guess the user’s password, particularly if they use a default password or one that is easy to remember such as “1234567.”
Attackers also often use brute-force methods to guess passwords. A brute-force password hack uses basic information about the individual or their job title to try to guess their password. For example, their name, birthdate, anniversary, or other personal but easy-to-discover details can be used in different combinations to decipher their password. Information that users put on social media can also be leveraged in a brute-force password hack. What the individual does for fun, specific hobbies, names of pets, or names of children are sometimes used to form passwords, making them relatively easy to guess for brute-force attackers.
A hacker can also use a dictionary attack to ascertain a user’s password. A dictionary attack is a technique that uses common words and phrases, such as those listed in a dictionary, to try and guess the target’s password.
One effective method of preventing brute-force and dictionary password attacks is to set up a lock-out policy. This locks out access to devices, websites, or applications automatically after a certain number of failed attempts. With a lock-out policy, the attacker only has a few tries before they get banned from access. If you have a lockout policy in place already and discover that your account has been locked out because of too many login attempts, it is wise to change your password.
If an attacker systematically uses a brute-force or dictionary attack to guess your password, they may take note of the passwords that did not work. For example, if your password is your last name followed by your year of birth and the hacker tries putting your birth year before your last name on the final attempt, they may get it right on the next try.
Similar to the password attacks, are brute-force attacks. This cyber attack gets its name from the “brutish” or simple methodology employed by the attack. The attacker simply tries to guess the login credentials of someone with access to the target system. Once they get it right, they are in.
While this may sound time-consuming and difficult, attackers often use bots to crack the credentials. The attacker provides the bot with a list of credentials that they think may give them access to the secure area. The bot then tries each one while the attacker sits back and waits. Once the correct credentials have been entered, the criminal gains access.
To prevent brute-force attacks, have lock-out policies in place as part of your authorization security architecture. After a certain number of attempts, the user attempting to enter the credentials gets locked out. This typically involves “freezing” the account so even if someone else tries from a different device with a different IP address, they cannot bypass the lockout.
It is also wise to use random passwords without regular words, dates, or sequences of numbers in them. This is effective because, for example, even if an attacker uses software to try to guess a 10-digit password, it will take many years of non-stop attempts to get it right.
8. URL interpretation
With URL interpretation, attackers alter and fabricate certain URL addresses and use them to gain access to the target’s personal and professional data. This kind of attack is also referred to as URL poisoning. The name “URL interpretation” comes from the fact that the attacker knows the order in which a web-page’s URL information needs to be entered. The attacker then “interprets” this syntax, using it to figure out how to get into areas they do not have access to.
To execute a URL interpretation attack, a hacker may guess URLs they can use to gain administrator privileges to a site or to access the site’s back end to get into a user’s account. Once they get to the page they want, they can manipulate the site itself or gain access to sensitive information about the people who use it.
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 some cases, the admin username and password may be the default “admin” and “admin” or very easy to guess. An attacker may also have already figured out the admin’s password or narrowed it down to a few possibilities. The attacker then tries each one, gains access, and can manipulate, steal, or delete data at will.
To prevent URL interpretation attacks from succeeding, use secure authentication methods for any sensitive areas of your site. This may necessitate multi-factor authentication (MFA) or secure passwords consisting of seemingly random characters.
9. Web attacks
Web attacks refer to threats that target vulnerabilities in web-based applications. Every time you enter information into a web application, you are initiating a command that generates a response. For example, if you are sending money to someone using an online banking application, the data you enter instructs the application to go into your account, take money out, and send it to someone else’s account. Attackers work within the frameworks of these kinds of requests and use them to their advantage.
Some common web attacks include SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS), which will be discussed later in this article. Hackers also use cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks and parameter tampering. In a CSRF attack, the victim is fooled into performing an action that benefits the attacker. For example, they may click on something that launches a script designed to change the login credentials to access a web application. The hacker, armed with the new login credentials, can then log in as if they are the legitimate user.
Parameter tampering involves adjusting the parameters that programmers implement as security measures designed to protect specific operations. The operation’s execution depends on what is entered in the parameter. The attacker simply changes the parameters, and this allows them to bypass the security measures that depended on those parameters.
To avoid web cyber attacks, inspect your web applications to check for and fix vulnerabilities. One way to patch up vulnerabilities without impacting the performance of the web application is to use anti-CSRF tokens. A token is exchanged between the user’s browser and the web application. Before a command is executed, the token’s validity is checked. If it checks out, the command goes through; if not, it is blocked. You can also use SameSite flags, which only allow requests from the same site to be processed, rendering any site built by the attacker powerless.
10. Insider threats.
Sometimes the most dangerous cyber attacks emerge from within an organization. People working within a company’s walls pose a unique risk because they typically have access to a variety of systems, as well as administrative privileges that allow them to make critical changes to the system or its security policies.
Additionally, staff members are well-versed in the organization’s threat response tactics and cybersecurity architecture. This information can be used to change security settings, obtain access to restricted areas, or decide when to launch an attack. Limiting employee access to sensitive systems to only those required for their duties is an effective way to prevent insider threats.
Limiting employee access to sensitive systems to those necessary for their duties is an effective way to prevent insider threats. Also, for the select few who require access, use MFA, which requires them to use at least one thing they know in conjunction with a physical item in order to gain access to a sensitive system.
For example, the user may need to enter a password and insert a USB device. In other cases, an access number is generated on a handheld device that the user must log in to. The user can only enter the secure area if both the password and the number are correct.
MFA may not prevent all cyber attacks. On its own, it makes it easier to determine who is behind an attack or an attempted one, especially since only a few people are granted access to sensitive areas in the first place. As a result, this limited access strategy may serve as a deterrent. Because of the small pool of potential suspects, cybercriminals within your organization will be aware that it is simple to identify the perpetrator.
There is no need to click anywhere on the website or enter any information.
To protect themselves from drive-by attacks, users should ensure that all of their computers are running the most recent software, including applications such as Adobe Acrobat and Flash, which may be used while browsing the Internet. Additionally, you can use web-filtering software. which can detect if a site is unsafe before a user visits it.
can perform deep data packet inspections using artificial intelligence (AI) that looks for the characteristics of ransomware.
How to Prevent Various Types of Cyber Attacks Effectively?
Here are the key tips to prevent different types of cyber attacks on businesses.
- Educate employees on cyber attacks and social engineering tactics.
- Implement strong access controls, multi-factor authentication (MFA), and password policies.
- Encrypt sensitive data and maintain secure, off-site backups.
- Regularly update software, patch vulnerabilities, and conduct security audits.
- Deploy firewalls, endpoint protection, and network segmentation.
- Monitor systems in real-time and establish a robust incident response plan.
Staying Ahead of Cyber Attacks
A recent survey of Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs) revealed that ransomware is one of the top cyber attacks, with 41% listing it among their top three concerns. Malware was also seen as a key risk by 38%, while email fraud and DDoS attacks were next, with 29% highlighting them as serious cyber attacks.
In short, different types of cyber attacks on businesses are increasing, with these three being the most prevalent. A strong cybersecurity posture is essential to detect and prevent such threats.
Types of Cyber Attacks FAQs
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