What are the Most Common Types of Cyber-attacks?

The most common types of cyber-attacks are phishing attacks, cyber breaches, malware/ransomware attacks, denial of service attacks, and man-in-the-middle attacks.

Common Types of Cyber Attacks

• Phishing attacks – Phishing is when a hacker tries to obtain a user's login and other personal information by sending an email that looks like it’s coming from a reputable source. The email will contain a link that takes the user to a site that captures the recipient’s username and password.
• Malware/Ransomware – Malware and Ransomware are software viruses that attack a user’s computer, steal personal information, or lock out the user completely until they agree to pay a ransom.
• Denial of Service (DOS) attacks occur when hackers flood a website or network with traffic in an effort to weaken performance or shut it down altogether.
• Man-in-the-middle – MITM attacks occur when a hacker gains access to a network during communications between a client and a host computer. The hacker uses a dummy IP address to pretend to be the user’s bank or other financial institution, so they can hijack their login information and steal money from the account.

Read More:

1. Top 10 Cyber Security Threats
2. How to Prevent Cyber Attacks 

Return to Security and Risk Terms Glossary