Hacker attacks have become a ubiquitous threat and occur daily. From personal identity theft to compromising large corporate networks, hackers use a variety of methods to steal sensitive data, cause damage, and wreak havoc. In this article, we present the five most common hacker attacks. Knowledge of these types of attacks is crucial and the first step in ensuring your IT security.
Zero-day exploits are existing security vulnerabilities in software or operating systems that have not yet been fixed. Attackers use these points to gain unauthorized access to systems before the manufacturers have a chance to close the gap. Often, such attacks happen before manufacturers or users know about the vulnerability, leaving little time to react and implement protective measures. Zero-day exploits therefore require forward-thinking security management to minimize this risk. You should regularly check the IT security news of the programs you use and install available updates. Only those who constantly stay up to date can be proactively prepared for such attacks.
In DDoS attacks (Distributed Denial of Service), numerous interconnected devices are combined into so-called botnets. Each of these devices becomes a “bot” and obeys the commands of the botnet operator, the so-called “bot master”. These bots are used to send massive numbers of requests to websites, making it appear as though they are coming from legitimate users. The aim of these requests is to overload the target site and make it inaccessible to actual users. With the extremely high number of requests per second, attackers are able to temporarily paralyze entire websites. The extent of the damage caused by DDoS attacks varies depending on the industry affected and the duration of the attack. In most cases, these attacks result in significant business disruptions and pose a serious threat to the online availability of services and resources.
A man-in-the-middle attack (MITM) is a threat in which inadequately encrypted connections are intercepted or manipulated by an attacker who literally inserts themselves “in the middle” of a communication between two parties. A common example is logging into a public Wi-Fi hotspot. If the encryption is weak, it is very easy for an attacker to intercept the data transmitted over the Wi-Fi. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you only use public hotspots in conjunction with a virtual private network (VPN) to ensure the security of your data. The damage is limited to the data that is transmitted during the attack, but this is often sensitive data such as credit card or password access.
Ransomware is malicious software that aims to block access to systems or data or to encrypt them. The attackers often demand a ransom to restore the data or access to it. In almost half of the cases, the demanded ransom is paid, but even then, the payment does not necessarily guarantee the restoration of the data. The consequences of a ransomware attack range from data loss to business interruption, IT infrastructure failure and financial damage, to loss of reputation and even the threat to a company"s very existence. While it is difficult to achieve 100% protection, a comprehensive IT security strategy can minimize the risks and significantly reduce the potential impact of ransomware attacks. Further tips and information can be found here: Ransomware – What you need to know
By far the most common type of hacker attack is phishing. Phishing involves fake messages that are disguised as trustworthy in order to trick users into revealing sensitive data. These attacks have increased significantly in recent years and are extremely problematic for companies. The consequences of phishing attacks often include serious financial consequences, data loss and irreparable reputational damage. The quality of phishing attacks is increasing as the messages are becoming more and more sophisticated in terms of language and content, making them difficult to detect. You should train your employees to recognize phishing attacks and be aware of the possible consequences. Further information on phishing can be found on our website. No company is immune from the constant and ubiquitous threat of hacker attacks. Proactive security measures and continuous monitoring of the state of your IT security are essential to protect yourself from these attacks in the best possible way. Find out how exactly this can be done in your specific case in a non-binding conversation. With a comprehensive security strategy, you can better protect your company and minimize the effects of hacker attacks. Stay alert and informed to ensure the long-term protection of your IT structures.
