The Most Common Types of Cyber Attacks

Malware Attacks

Malware is defined as ‘software specifically designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to a computer system.’ This harmful software is written and implemented by hackers to compromise a business from the inside. Ransomware and spyware are types of malware that can spread across your network like wildfire and remain undetected for extended periods if left unprotected.

Phishing Scams

Phishing is commonly associated with scammy emails and text messages. This is when a hacker tricks someone into opening an email to click a corrupted link that contains malware. Clicking the link can cause your system to fail and expose sensitive data. Hackers will use enticing headlines or spectacular promotional offers to pull you in, but be wary. Make sure any link you click within an email is from a certified sender.

Password Attacks

Password attacks are exactly what they sound like. Hackers will attempt to gain a user’s login credentials and passwords by using computer algorithms to guess passwords continuously. If you and your employees aren’t diligent about changing passwords, the hacker will get through at some point. The best way to prevent hackers from obtaining your passwords is by frequently changing them and using security measures for your employees when they edit password settings.

SQL Injection Attack

SQL stands for ‘Structured Query Language’ and is used to communicate with a database. A SQL injection attack is when a hacker inserts malware or malicious code that can alter backend databases. This gives hackers access to your company’s sensitive data, customer and employee data, and user lists. SQL injection attacks can even delete this data which can be especially devastating for small and mid-sized businesses. Monitoring your network regularly is the best way to protect against SQL injection attacks.

Eavesdropping Attacks

As if the concept of your sensitive data being public wasn’t scary enough, hackers can even breach a network and listen to communications! They do this by intercepting the public key message transmission, changing the requested key with their key, and retransmitting the message. This can lead hackers to steal information that is not theirs. All of this can happen without the original parties knowing they are being listened to.

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