An explanation of cyberattacks and their different forms
In this video, Informa TechTarget customer success specialist Ben Clossey explains what cyberattacks are, their different forms and how organizations can prevent them.
When it comes to cyberattacks, no one is safe.
A cyberattack is any malicious attempt to gain unauthorized access to a network, computer or computer system to cause damage. They typically involve disabling, disrupting or controlling computer systems to block, manipulate or steal the data.
In the past two decades, cyberattacks have grown in volume and sophistication. An overwhelming shift to remote work exposed potential attack vectors, while the growth of AI brought attacks that targeted people with deepfakes and other deceptive content.
Here, we'll explain some common cyberattacks and how to prevent them.
Cyberattacks happen for a number of reasons. Many attackers seek financial gain, while others might seek disruption or revenge. Even governments engage in cyberattacks as a part of social, political or economic disputes, in a practice known as cyberwarfare.
These are some other common types of cyberattacks:
- Phishing, an attack that tricks its victim into believing an email is sent from a trustworthy source, when it actually contains malware.
- Ransomware attacks, which involve encrypting a user's files to make them unusable, then demanding a ransom in exchange for a decryption key.
- Man-in-the-middle attacks, where attackers secretly insert themselves between two parties to breach their communications.
- SQL injection attacks, which involve inserting malicious code into a server to uncover sensitive data.
- Denial-of-service attacks, where a system's resources are overwhelmed by generating false traffic.
- Password attacks, where attackers use various techniques to steal or acquire passwords and gain access to critical data and systems.
Cyberattacks can occur in any industry and have lasting impacts. In 2024, a ransomware attack on Change Healthcare resulted in nearly $2.5 billion in damages and a major disruption in patient care services. The previous year, Reddit employees were targeted in a phishing scam where their credentials were used to access the company's documents, code and business systems.
Organizations should treat cyberattacks as inevitable, as there's no guaranteed way to completely prevent them. That said, there are a number of ways to reduce their likelihood. To avoid attacks, organizations should:
- Establish a vulnerability management program to effectively identify and fix network vulnerabilities.
- Pursue security awareness training to ensure employees are on the same page when it comes to cyber awareness and protection.
- Consider end-to-end encryption across the network, which adds an extra layer of protection for valuable data in the event of a breach.
- Require security teams to proactively monitor the IT environment for signs of suspicious activity.
How does your organization fight cyberattacks? Share your tips in the comments at Eye on Tech, and remember to like and subscribe, too.
Tommy Everson is an assistant editor for video content at TechTarget. He assists in content creation for TechTarget's YouTube channel and TikTok page.