Cybersecurity Attack

A Cybersecurity Attack is a malicious action that targets computer systems, data networks, or digital infrastructure to compromise their security, disrupt operations, or gain unauthorized access.

• Context:
  • It can (typically) be preceded by a Cybersecurity Attack Choice.
  • ...
  • It can target Software-Based Systems by exploiting vulnerabilities such as unpatched software, weak authentication, or poor configuration.
  • It can involve various attack vectors, such as exploiting a Social Engineering Attack to deceive individuals into revealing sensitive information.
  • It can focus on Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks to make systems or services unavailable to legitimate users.
  • It can involve the use of Malware, which includes viruses, trojans, worms, and ransomware, to disrupt systems or steal data.
  • It can exploit Network-based Vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to networks and sensitive data.
  • It can be motivated by financial gain, political motives, espionage, or simply the desire to cause disruption or damage.
  • It can target specific individuals, organizations, or even entire nations, as seen in large-scale State-Sponsored Cyber Attacks.
  • It can be detected and mitigated by implementing Cybersecurity Defense Mechanisms such as firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), and encryption.
  • It can exploit human error, weak passwords, or outdated systems to gain access to sensitive information or critical systems.
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• Example(s):
  • Phishing Attack (that can be executed through email phishing), where attackers trick users into revealing sensitive information like passwords or credit card numbers.
  • Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attack (that can be executed by botnets), where a massive volume of traffic is sent to overwhelm a target website or service, making it unavailable to legitimate users.
  • Ransomware Attack (that can be executed by encrypting files), where attackers hold a system's data hostage, demanding payment in exchange for decryption.
  • SQL Injection Attack (that can be executed through vulnerable web forms), where malicious SQL code is injected into queries, allowing attackers to access or manipulate database contents.
  • Man-in-the-Middle Attack (that can be executed by intercepting network traffic), where an attacker eavesdrops or alters communications between two parties without their knowledge.
  • Zero-Day Attack (that can be executed by exploiting an unpatched vulnerability), where attackers take advantage of a software vulnerability before a patch is available.
  • Insider Threat Attack (that can be executed by disgruntled employees), where individuals with authorized access intentionally cause harm by leaking data or sabotaging systems.
  • ...
• Counter-Example(s):
  • Software Bug, which refers to unintended flaws in software design but is not an intentional attack.
  • Network Outage caused by natural disasters or technical failures, which are not the result of deliberate attacks.
  • Hardware Failure, which involves malfunctioning hardware components but does not constitute an attack.
• See: Cybersecurity, Malware, Phishing, Denial of Service Attack, SQL Injection Attack, Zero-Day Attack, Security Vulnerability, Network Security, Insider Threat, Ransomware, Hacker (Computer Security), Stuxnet, Security Hacker, Cyber Campaign, Cyberwarfare, Cyberterrorism, Spyware, User Behavior Analytics, Security Information And Event Management, Data Breach.

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References

2024

• (Wikipedia, 2024) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberattack Retrieved:2024-10-16.
  • A cyberattack (or cyber attack) occurs when there is an unauthorized action against computer infrastructure that compromises the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of its content.

    The rising dependence on increasingly complex and interconnected computer systems in most domains of life is the main factor that causes vulnerability to cyberattacks, since virtually all computer systems have bugs that can be exploited by attackers. Although it is impossible or impractical to create a perfectly secure system, there are many defense mechanisms that can make a system more difficult to attack.

    Perpetrators of a cyberattack can be criminals, hacktivists, or states. They attempt to find weaknesses in a system, exploit them and create malware to carry out their goals, and deliver it to the targeted system. Once installed, the malware can have a variety of effects depending on its purpose. Detection of cyberattacks is often absent or delayed, especially when the malware attempts to spy on the system while remaining undiscovered. If it is discovered, the targeted organization may attempt to collect evidence about the attack, remove malware from its systems, and close the vulnerability that enabled the attack.

    Cyberattacks can cause a variety of harms to targeted individuals, organizations, and governments, including significant financial losses and identity theft. They are usually illegal both as a method of crime and warfare, although correctly attributing the attack is difficult and perpetrators are rarely prosecuted.

2018

• (Wikipedia, 2018) ⇒ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cyberattack Retrieved:2018-1-11.
  • A cyberattack is any type of offensive manoeuvre employed by nation-states, individuals, groups, or organizations that targets computer information systems, infrastructures, computer networks, and/or personal computer devices by various means of malicious acts usually originating from an anonymous source that either steals, alters, or destroys a specified target by hacking into a susceptible system. These can be labelled as either a cyber campaign, cyberwarfare or cyberterrorism in different context. Cyberattacks can range from installing spyware on a personal computer to attempts to destroy the infrastructure of entire nations. Cyberattacks have become increasingly sophisticated and dangerous as the Stuxnet worm recently demonstrated. User behavior analytics and SIEM are used to prevent these attacks. Legal experts are seeking to limit use of the term to incidents causing physical damage, distinguishing it from the more routine data breaches and broader hacking activities.

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