What is a cyber attack? Definition from Digimagg

A cyber attack refers to any malicious effort to gain unauthorized entry into a computer, computing system, or network with the intention of causing harm. The goal of cyber attacks is to disable, disrupt, destroy, or control computer systems, or to manipulate, delete, steal, or block the data stored within these systems.

Cyber attacks can be carried out by individuals or groups from any location, employing various attack methods. Those perpetrating cyber attacks are commonly termed as bad actors, threat actors, or hackers. These may include lone individuals utilizing their technical skills to execute malicious activities, as well as organized criminal syndicates collaborating with other threat actors to exploit weaknesses in computer systems for profit.

Additionally, government-backed groups of skilled computer experts engage in cyber attacks, known as nation-state attackers. They have been accused of targeting the IT infrastructure of other governments and non-governmental entities, such as businesses, non-profits, and utilities.

What are the mechanisms behind cyber attacks?

In untargeted attacks, threat actors exploit vulnerabilities in software code or utilize phishing tactics to infiltrate systems on a broad scale. Conversely, targeted attacks focus on specific organizations and employ various methods tailored to the attackers' objectives. For instance, hacktivist groups like Anonymous may conduct distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks following specific events, while hackers may use spear-phishing campaigns to target individuals within an organization.

Cybercriminals often develop and share software tools on the dark web to aid in their attacks. Cyber attacks typically progress through stages, starting with reconnaissance and vulnerability scanning, followed by initial compromise, and culminating in the execution of the attack, such as data theft or system disruption.

According to the "Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023" by IBM, organizations often take several months to detect and contain breaches, with breach lifecycles averaging 204 days in 2023.

Exploring the causes of cyber attacks

Cyber attacks are orchestrated with the intention to inflict harm and can pursue various objectives:

Financial Motives

Most cyber attacks, particularly those targeting businesses, are driven by the pursuit of financial gain. Such attacks often involve the theft of sensitive data like credit card information or personal details of employees, which cybercriminals exploit for monetary purposes. Some attacks involve disabling computer systems and demanding ransom payments from affected organizations to regain access.

Corporate Espionage

Certain cyber attacks are aimed at acquiring valuable corporate data, such as proprietary information, representing a modern form of corporate espionage.

Disruption and Retribution

Bad actors may launch attacks to create chaos, distrust, or embarrassment, seeking revenge for perceived wrongs or to tarnish an organization's reputation. These attacks can target government entities, commercial businesses, or non-profit organizations.

Insider Threats

Attacks originating from employees with malicious intent, known as insider threats, pose another significant risk to organizations.

Cyberwarfare

Governments engage in cyber attacks as part of geopolitical conflicts, using digital means to pursue political, economic, or social objectives. These acts are categorized as cyberwarfare.

What are the prevalent forms of cyber attacks?

Malware encompasses various malicious software targeting information systems, including ransomware, spyware, and Trojans, capable of data theft, system disruption, or rendering systems inoperable.

• Phishing involves the social engineering of email messages to trick recipients into installing malware by opening attached files or embedded links.
• SMiShing, or SMS phishing, is an evolution of phishing, utilizing text messages to deliver malware upon recipient interaction.
• Man-in-the-middle attacks occur when attackers intercept communication between parties, potentially leading to eavesdropping or data interception.
• Denial-of-service (DoS) and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks overwhelm targeted systems with false traffic to disrupt service availability.
• SQL injection attacks exploit vulnerabilities in servers to access sensitive data using Structured Query Language code.
• Zero-day exploits take advantage of newly identified vulnerabilities in IT infrastructure.
• Domain name system tunneling establishes persistent access into targeted systems for unauthorized activities.
• Drive-by downloads infect individuals' computers with malware upon visiting infected websites.
• Credential-based attacks involve stealing IT workers' credentials to access systems and compromise data.
• Credential stuffing uses compromised login credentials to gain unauthorized access to systems.
• Brute-force attacks employ trial-and-error methods to crack login credentials, aiming to gain unauthorized access.

What measures can be taken to mitigate the risk of a cyber attack?

While there's no foolproof method to completely prevent cyber attacks, organizations can significantly reduce their risk by adhering to cybersecurity best practices. Mitigating the risk of a cyber attack entails leveraging skilled security professionals, robust processes, and advanced technology.

The approach to risk reduction encompasses three main defensive actions:

• Preventing attempted attacks from breaching the organization's IT systems.
• Detecting intrusions promptly.
• Disrupting attacks already underway at the earliest possible stage.

Key best practices include:

• Implementing perimeter defenses like firewalls to block attack attempts and access to malicious domains.
• Adopting a zero-trust framework, requiring verification for every attempt to access the network or systems.
• Utilizing antivirus software to safeguard against malware.
• Employing patch management to address known software vulnerabilities.
• Establishing robust security configurations, password policies, and user access controls.
• Maintaining a monitoring and detection program to identify and alert on suspicious activity.
• Implementing a threat hunting program to proactively search for signs of hackers.
• Developing incident response plans to guide actions in the event of a breach.
• Providing training and education to users on potential attack scenarios and their role in protecting the organization.

Identifying the most familiar cyber attacks

Sophisticated cyber attacks are on the rise, with far-reaching consequences beyond the affected companies.

For instance, JBS S.A., a Brazilian meat processing company, fell victim to a ransomware attack in May 2021, leading to shutdowns in the U.S., Australia, and Canada, and an $11 million ransom payout.

Similarly, Colonial Pipeline suffered a ransomware attack in May 2021, halting the largest fuel pipeline in the U.S. and causing fuel shortages along the East Coast.

The SolarWinds attack, discovered in December 2020, breached U.S. federal agencies, infrastructure, and private corporations, with suspected Russian government sponsorship. This attack compromised updates for SolarWinds' Orion software platform, affecting various organizations, including FireEye, Microsoft, and numerous U.S. government agencies.

Other notable breaches include:

• Cyber attacks launched by Russia against Ukraine since February 2022.
  - A July 2020 Twitter breach targeting high-profile users.
  - A breach at Marriott's Starwood hotels in November 2018 affecting 500 million guests' personal data.
  - The February 2018 breach at Under Armour's MyFitnessPal exposing 150 million user accounts.
  - The May 2017 WannaCry ransomware attack affecting over 300,000 computers worldwide.
  - The September 2017 Equifax breach compromising 145 million individuals' personal information.
  - Google Cloud's record-breaking DDoS attack in September 2017.
  - The Petya and NotPetya attacks in 2016 and 2017, causing over $10 billion in damages.
  - A 2016 attack at FriendFinder compromising data of 412 million users.
  - The 2014 Yahoo data breach affecting 500 million user accounts.
  - The 2014 eBay breach exposing personal information of 145 million users.
  - The 2013 Target data breach involving data from 110 million customers.
  - The 2009 Heartland Payment Systems breach compromising 134 million credit cards.

Evolving patterns in cyber attacks

As cyber attacks continue to rise in frequency and complexity, several discernible trends have emerged. These include:

Ransomware

Ransomware poses a significant and escalating threat to organizations, with attackers employing increasingly sophisticated techniques. The prevalence of ransomware attacks has grown, with attackers refining their methods to maximize their gains.

Utilization of AI

Malicious actors are leveraging AI tools to bolster their hacking endeavors. For instance, there have been instances where AI-generated voices were used to deceive individuals into transferring funds, exemplified by a UK-based energy firm CEO who fell victim to such a scheme in 2019. Incidents of AI-assisted attacks have proliferated in recent years.

Hacktivism

Hacktivists target computer systems or networks for socio-political motives, posing an ongoing threat. During conflicts such as the Israel-Gaza conflict, hacktivist groups have claimed responsibility for cyber attacks on both sides, underscoring the persistent nature of hacktivist activities.

Adapting to the changing landscape of cyber attacks

The frequency, financial impact, and repercussions of cyber threats are on a continual rise each year, as indicated by various reports. For instance, the "Cybersecurity Solutions for a Riskier World" report by ThoughtLab in 2022 highlighted a 20.5% increase in material breaches suffered by surveyed organizations from 2020 to 2021. Despite heightened attention and increased spending on cybersecurity by executives and board members, a significant portion of organizational leaders, including 29% of CEOs and chief information security officers and 40% of chief security officers, expressed unpreparedness for the evolving threat landscape.

Security experts anticipate a continued escalation in the volume of attacks in the foreseeable future. Throughout the first two decades of the 21st century, the variety and complexity of cyber attacks expanded, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, which prompted widespread adoption of remote work and exposed numerous potential attack vectors.

The history of cyber attacks dates back to the invention of the first computer virus in 1986, followed by the creation of the first internet-distributed worm by Cornell University graduate student Robert Tappan Morris in 1988, known as the Morris worm. Subsequent years witnessed the emergence of Trojan horse, ransomware, and DDoS attacks, which gained notoriety with incidents like WannaCry, Petya, and NotPetya.

The 2010s saw the rise of cryptomining malware, also referred to as cryptojacking, wherein hackers illegally harness a computer's processing power to mine cryptocurrency, causing significant slowdowns and disruptions. Advancements in machine learning, artificial intelligence, and robotic tools have empowered hackers to orchestrate more sophisticated and high-volume attacks.

Additionally, hackers have refined their techniques, employing advanced phishing and spear-phishing campaigns, targeting unpatched vulnerabilities, compromised credentials, and misconfigurations to gain unauthorized access to computer systems.