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Organizations of all types and sizes are in danger of being infiltrated by malicious attackers who steal information with the intent to use it in a way that is contrary to how it should be used. These attackers use many sophisticated methods for getting access to systems and these methods are constantly evolving with continued advancements in technology. While this article will not cover all of the types of cyber-attacks that are possible, it will discuss some of the more common ones that exist today and how they are executed. The Cyber and Network Security programs at Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology can help you learn more about these potential threats as well as the best ways to prevent them or recover from them with minimal damage.
Phishing
A phishing attack is a form of social engineering that tricks individuals into giving away sensitive data such as login information that is then used in a malicious way. Phishing attacks may take the form of emails, text messages or phone calls that mimic a legitimate source in such a way that someone might not realize they are being targeted. In some cases, these messages include links that take an individual to a fake login page or that cause them to inadvertently download dangerous software onto their computer. Phishing messages may also convey a sense of urgency or try to strike fear into the user compelling them to make the mistake of following whatever directives are presented.
Malware
In a phishing attack there may be a link included in an email or text message that when clicked installs malware on a user’s system. Malware, or malicious software, is an intrusive type of software that is used by hackers to infiltrate a system and take control allowing them to corrupt the system, steal information and bring operations to a halt. Types of malware can include viruses, worms, spyware and Trojan horses. If one computer on a large network gets infected with malware it can spread to every computer and cause major problems.
A more sinister form of malware that can also have severe consequences is ransomware. Ransomware encrypts a computer or an entire network of computers and users are informed that if they do not pay a specific ransom amount their data will remain encrypted and inaccessible. A user or an organization can arrange to pay the ransom and get access to their data but this will not always work and additional funds may be demanded or information may be leaked and/or sold to other individuals.
DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service)
A distributed denial of service or DDoS attack is an attack in which a hacker takes over many systems, infects them with some type of malware and then programs them to bombard a specific target with internet fake traffic effectively causing the target’s site to crash due to the overload. Often DDoS attacks are carried out by individuals, sometimes referred to as hacktivists, who are trying to make a statement rather than stealing sensitive information. DDoS attacks can be very detrimental to a business because they prevent regular traffic from accessing their site and can result in eroding customer confidence and major loss of revenue.
Learning How to Respond to Attacks
As a cyber security professional one of your roles may be to figure out ways to successfully prevent and/or respond to these and other kinds of cyber-attacks. Cambridge College of Healthcare & Technology offers online cyber and network security education programs that can help get you started on learning more about types of attacks and the best ways to approach them. If you are interested in learning more about what we have to offer we encourage you to visit the Cambridge College website to explore what we have to offer. You can also fill out the Request Info form, provide your contact information and someone will get back in touch with you with additional information. We look forward to hearing from you.