Cyber ​​attack: what it is, how it works, its objective and how it can be prevented

A cyber attack is definible as a hostile activity against a system, a tool, an application or an element that has a computer component. It is an activity that aims to obtain a benefit for the attacker at the expense of the attacked.

There are different types of cyber attacks, which vary according to the objectives to be achieved and the technological and contextual scenarios:

• cyber attacks to prevent a system from functioning, 
• that point to the compromise of a system, 
• some attacks target personal data owned by a system or company,
• cyber-activism attacks in support of causes or information and communication campaigns
• etc…

Those who carry out the cyber attack, alone or in groups, are called Chippers

How often do cyber attacks occur?

Cyber ​​attacks are becoming more and more common in our modern digital world. They can cause serious harm to individuals, businesses and governments. People they make an attack for several reasons, including financial gain, espionage, activism, and sabotage. Furthermore, hackers may launch attacks simply as a challenge or to demonstrate their skills. 

Why do people launch cyber attacks?

There are many reasons, including financial gain, espionage, activism, and sabotage. In some cases, cyberattacks can be politically motivated to cause harm to their opponents.

What happens during a cyber attack?

The attacker gains unauthorized access to a computer system, network or device to steal, modify or destroy data. The attacker can use a variety of tactics, including malware, social engineering, or exploiting vulnerabilities in software or systems. 

How do cyber attacks happen?

They can happen in various ways. For example, a hacker can use methods phishing to trick a user into clicking a malicious link or entering their login credentials into a fake website. Alternatively, a hacker can cause damage to vulnerabilities in software to gain access to other devices to steal sensitive information.

What is a Botnet?

A network for compromised devices is called a botnet or "bot," which is controlled by a single attacker or a group. These bots can attack the systems of smartphones and other internet-connected devices.

1. Web-based attack: performed using a network of bots to launch attacks on websites, such as attacks DDoS to flood a website with traffic and web scraping, where the attacker can steal essential data from websites using bots.
2. System-based attack: Attackers use botnets to infect and control other devices' systems and spread malware, as ransomware or spyware, and steal sensitive data.

Types of cyber attacks

Knowledge of the different types of attacks it helps protect our networks and our systems from them. Here we'll take a closer look at the top ten types that can affect an individual or a large company, depending on the scope. 

In the coming weeks, we will explore different types of attacks, how to prevent them, how to protect yourself and relevant news. In particular we will address the following topics, and the following types of attack:

• Cyber ​​attack: what it is, how it works, objective and how to prevent it: Interception attack
• Cyber ​​attack: what it is, how it works, objective and how to prevent it: Attack on passwords
• Cyber ​​attack: what it is, how it works, goal and how to prevent it: Cross-site scripting attack (XSS)

Ercole Palmeri