Cybersecurity: the most common types of cyber attacks and how to defend yourself

In recent years, the cyber threat landscape has continued to evolve and threaten the security of businesses worldwide. With the rise of email attacks, ransomware, corporate email compromise (BEC) and insider threats, it is essential that companies prepare to effectively defend against these known and emerging threats.

Rapporto Stato del Phish 2023 di Proofpoint

Proofpoint's State of the Phish Report 2023 found that e-mail attacks, particularly phishing, remain a major threat to businesses. Eighty percent of organizations experienced at least one email phishing attack last year, resulting in a direct financial loss in 7 percent of cases. This underscores the importance of properly addressing the problem of phishing and educating users about its relevance and warning signs.

Despite the spread of cybersecurity training programs, many employees continue to lack basic understanding of common cyber threats. The report revealed that more than one-third of respondents do not know how to define malware or phishing, while only 40 percent know what ransomware is. This lack of knowledge is worrisome, as users are often the entry point for cyber attacks.

Addressing this challenge requires a holistic approach that combines advanced technological measures with effective user training. It is essential that companies implement cybersecurity training programs that cover the most common threats and tactics of attackers. This type of training should include simulations based on real decoys, where users can experience and learn how to recognize and deal with cyber attacks.

User training is not enough to protect companies from cyber attacks. Advanced technical measures, such as endpoint security solutions, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and data loss prevention, must be taken. Keeping software and operating systems up-to-date and implementing timely security patches is critical. In addition, companies should adopt a "defense-in-depth" mindset with network segmentation, multi-factor authentication and data encryption. Creating a culture of cybersecurity and involving all employees is crucial. Protecting businesses requires ongoing commitment, user education, and advanced technical measures to mitigate risk and adapt to new tactics of attackers.

Most common types of cyber attacks

The digital age in which we are immersed has brought many benefits, but it has also opened the door to a number of threats and risks to information security. As mentioned above, cyber attacks have become increasingly frequent and sophisticated, threatening the privacy, financial security, and even the reputation of individuals and companies. Understanding the most common types of cyber attacks and the defense measures available is essential to protect our systems and sensitive information.

• Phishing: is one of the most widespread and deceptive types of cyber attacks. It consists of sending fake e-mails or messages that appear to come from trusted sources, such as banks or popular online services. Phishing aims to persuade its victims to reveal sensitive data, such as passwords or credit card numbers. To protect yourself from phishing, it is important to pay attention to email details, always verify the authenticity of requests for personal information, and use reliable cybersecurity solutions, such as anti-phishing filters.
• Malware: short for "malicious software," is a type of computer attack that insinuates itself into computer systems in order to damage, control, or steal information. There are several variants of malware, such as viruses, worms, Trojans, and ransomware. Malware can be distributed through infected e-mail attachments, downloads from untrusted websites, or exploits of operating system vulnerabilities. To protect yourself from malware, it is important to keep your antivirus updated at all times, avoid opening attachments or clicking on suspicious links, and beware of unsafe websites.
• Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attack: is a method in which an attacker interposes himself between two communicating parties, intercepting and manipulating the information exchanged. Usually, this type of attack occurs on unsecured public Wi-Fi networks, where attackers can intercept data transmitted between devices and access points. To protect against MitM attacks, it is advisable to use secure, encrypted Wi-Fi networks, such as virtual private networks (VPNs), which provide an encrypted channel for communication.
• SQL Injection: is an attack technique that exploits vulnerabilities in Web sites that use SQL databases. Attackers insert malicious code into input requests, manipulating database queries to gain unauthorized access or extract confidential information. To protect systems from SQL injection attacks, it is critical to use secure development best practices, such as validating input data, using prepared parameters, and restricting database privileges.
• Tunneling DNS: exploits the Domain Name System (DNS) protocol to send non-DNS traffic through port 53, which is usually used for DNS requests. This technique is often used to evade security controls and transmit sensitive data covertly. To protect against DNS tunneling, it is advisable to use security solutions that monitor DNS traffic and detect any anomalies or suspicious behavior.
• Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack: aims to overload a system or network by sending a huge amount of traffic, making services inaccessible to legitimate users. This type of attack can be carried out using botnets, which are networks of computers infected and controlled by attackers. To protect against DoS attacks, it is important to implement DDoS attack mitigation solutions, which can detect and block malicious traffic in real time.
• Zero-day attacks: exploit newly discovered software vulnerabilities that are still unknown to the manufacturer or security community. Attackers exploit these vulnerabilities before a patch or solution is released to fix them. To protect against zero-day attacks, it is critical to keep software and operating systems up-to-date at all times, as security patches often fix known vulnerabilities.
• Botnet: is a network of computers infected with malware and controlled by an attacker without the consent of the device owners. Botnets are used to carry out coordinated attacks, such as DDoS attacks, or to conduct other malicious activities, such as stealing personal information. To protect yourself from botnets, it is important to use up-to-date antivirus software and firewalls, avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading files from untrusted sources, and pay attention to abnormal behavior on your device.

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