Cyber-Attacks: The Journey of The Search- Part 1
Every day we hear news about the cyber breaches that are taking place all around the globe but deep down, are we really aware of the true definition of cyber-attack? And if there is definition, there must be types to categorize the cyber-attacks that many organizations face on a day-to-day basis and the million-dollar question is there any solution to global problems like this? As a guest writer of the day, I will answer all these questions through the below blog post. Starting with;
The Definition of Cyber-Attacks?
A cyber-attack is defined as an offensive action initiated by an anonymous individual using a digital system against another digital device, website or any other digital entity with an objective to make the breach to steal the data stored in it. These attacks not only affect an individual as a person but also affect the businesses running across the globe.
As per the recent survey, “the total number of cyber-attacks has doubled in between 2017 to 2018.”
What are the types of cyber-attacks?
There are several types of cyber-attacks that are used to break into the system. Whether you are a beginner or professional, you should be aware of all these cyber-attacks to guarantee safety and security. So, without any further delay let’s start with the cyber-attacks:
Malware
Malware is often considered as the software that is developed with the objective to disrupt a server, computer, network, and clients. These malware can be in the form of scripts, active content, and other malicious software.
If you have some basic knowledge then, you may have heard about the computer codes that can be viruses, computer worms, Trojan horses, adware spyware, or scareware. As the name suggests, Malware is designed with the hidden malicious intention to cause damage to the server/website user.
According to the recent survey, the most prominent damages are caused by malware attacks. The installed malware can:
- Block the access to the components to the network.
- Install harmful malware/software
- Can steal the vital data and information from the system
- Can damage the certain hardware components
Out of all of these malware, my favorite is Trojan horses which is known for misleading the users from their true intent. You can read about these malware in detail in the Cyber Security Certification Training Courses.
Related Post: CISM vs. CISSP Certification: Which One Is the Right Career Choice for You?
Phishing
In the US alone, around 50% of the total cyber-attacks are initiated through the phishing. How it takes place? As far as I have seen, the hacker sends an email or instant message that seems like a reliable establishment in electronic communication. Intentionally or unintentionally when the receiver opens the email or message and fills their information, hackers break in and steal the restricted information such as credit card details, login passwords, ids, etc.
As they pretend to be reliable sources such as auction sites, IT administrators and social websites, it is hard to identify them as a hacker or unwanted snoopers. So, to avoid them, you need to be aware of all the emails and messages you are receiving on a day-to-day basis.
Men-in-middle attacks
You know my next words- I love this type of cyber-attacks, the reason? Well, the hacker needs to be very smart (that they are) and impersonate to act like someone else. What happens in the men in middle attacks is the invader covertly modifies the messages that are taking place among two people through an online network. During this cyber-attack, communicators are made to believe that they are communicating without interface from the third person.
However, in reality, the whole conversation is controlled by the invader while making the communicators believe that they are talking to each other. This is how this cyber-attack got its “eavesdropping” name.
How it takes place?
There are two ways to invaders conduct the Men-in-middle attacks:
First: When someone connects to the unprotected “FREE” public Wi-Fi to chat online, the invader immediately takes over the chats through the network, communicators are connected with and take control of the whole conversation. The communicator without having a slight idea of attack continuous to pass information to the invader.
Second: Apart from the open WI-FI the ‘eavesdropping’ can be done through the malware. What the invaders do in such cases is install the malware in the victim’s device to steal all the information.
That’s all for today, we will further continue this blog. Until then, you can scroll through some of the – Cyber Security Certification Training Courses at the ProICT Training. Feel free to connect with me for further details.
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