Understanding attack vectors: What they are and how to protect yourself

What is an attack vector?

An attack vector (also known as a threat vector) is a specific path, method, or scenario by which a hacker can break into a computer system. Attack vectors often include such means as malware, phishing emails, or DDoS attacks.

Upon successfully launching an attack vector, malicious actors can gain access to sensitive company data, take control of software, and steal information. The choice of attack vectors can vary depending on the size of the company’s attack surface (number of vulnerabilities and entry points).

How hackers use attack vectors

Hackers choose attack vectors by observing the target’s attack surface. Once they discover the best entry point, they pick the corresponding attack vector and launch the attack. For example, suppose a malicious actor targets a huge company that employs thousands of people. In that case, they might consider using a phishing email or some other social engineering attack to trick the unsuspecting low-level employees into providing unauthorized access to the network.

Generally, attack vectors are classified into two categories: active attack vectors and passive attack vectors.

Active attack vectors

Active attack vectors are techniques that malicious actors use to halt or disrupt system operations. You can think of them as a full frontal cyber assault directed at the main network’s vulnerabilities to crash or breach the system.

Active attack vectors involve direct interaction with the target system and are easily noticeable due to their immediate and aggressive impact. Malware, compromised IoT devices, and DDoS attacks are typical examples of active attack vectors.

Passive attack vectors

Passive attack vectors are the polar opposite of active attack vectors. They include techniques that allow malicious actors to access networks without the owner’s knowledge. Passive attack vector users aren’t looking to crash or otherwise harm the system but instead seek to remain hidden, gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data.

Examples of passive attack vectors include network eavesdropping, wireless sniffing, and (in some cases) man-in-the-middle attacks.

Attack vector vs. attack surface

“Attack vector” and “attack surface” might sound like synonyms, but they’re two different terms. While one describes the means and methods to attack the network, the other defines the network’s vulnerabilities. Or, in simpler terms, an attack vector is like an arsenal of weapons, while the attack surface describes all the holes and dents in a system that hackers can target using those weapons.

The most common attack vector examples

By understanding the different attack vectors you need to stay aware of, you reduce the risk of becoming a victim of tech-savvy criminals. Remember, the best defense against cybercriminals is knowledge. By detecting the signs of a potential attack-vector exploit, you can prevent it from happening.

Here are some of the most common attack vectors that you should remember:

• Phishing attacks. With the use of social engineering, phishing attacks are some of the most common attack vectors. Hackers can trick you into clicking a malicious link by masquerading as an official institute or legitimate company. A victim of a phishing attack could be hoodwinked into entering their banking details into a fake site.
• Compromised credentials. The results of a phishing attack can often lead to compromised credentials, which can be used as an attack vector. Using stolen (or unwittingly given) credentials, a hacker won’t even need to brute-force their way into a network.
• Ransomware. Ransomware is malware that has been injected into your system to disable some processes until you provide the hacker with what they want — typically money. A hacker can encrypt your files and only provide the decryption key once their instructions have been followed. A ransomware attack can wring potentially thousands of dollars worth of cryptocurrency from a victim.
• Internal threats. The internal threats attack vector is defined by employees exposing important network details to a malicious actor. Sometimes, the attack will come from the employees themselves. These wronged workers can cause devastating damage by already having access to the most sensitive internal systems. Once that data is exposed, all hell may break loose online when a company’s lacking cybersecurity is revealed.
• Weak encryption. Encryption is key for keeping data private. When an encryption protocol is weak or — even worse — absent, a hacker can easily exploit this attack vector to steal important credentials.
• Distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks. The DDoS attacks aim to sabotage the target’s networks, causing operational, reputational, and financial damage. Government agencies and huge businesses are often the primary targets of DDoS attacks because hackers love nothing more than exposing powerful entities for their lack of capable cybersecurity measures.
• Malware. This type of cyberattack usually includes trojans, ransomware, and similar malicious software. Hackers use different types of malware to infiltrate systems and networks, gaining unauthorized access to sensitive data, disrupting operations, and often demanding ransom payments. Once inside the system, malware can then spread through a network, stealing data, encrypting files, or creating backdoors for further exploitation.
• Brute force attacks. Brute force attacks are the cybersecurity equivalent of leaving no stone unturned. During brute force attacks, hackers use automated systems to hack networks by trying every possible combination of passwords or encryption keys until they find the correct one.
• Session hijacking. Session hijacking happens when hackers put their hands into a user’s internet cookie jar. While it may sound harmless, stolen website cookies can provide access to sensitive data (for example, a company’s email account) and might cause financial theft and further exploitation of compromised systems.
• Cross-site scripting (XSS). Typically found in web applications, XSS allows hackers to infect web pages with malicious scripts. Once users visit the malware-injected website, these scripts begin executing their functions, exposing their victims to dangers such as data theft or session hijacking.
• SQL injection attacks. Hackers use malicious SQL injection commands to gain access to different databases. A successful SQL injection attack allows malicious actors to enter the network without typing a single password, leaving the system at the intruder’s mercy.
• Man-in-the-middle attacks. Also known as MITM attacks, these cyberattacks occur when users share sensitive data via unprotected open Wi-Fi networks. Since public networks are accessible to anyone, hackers lurk there, secretly spying on users and collecting useful data. Exposure to MITM attacks can cause unauthorized access to personal and corporate data, financial loss, or even identity theft.

How to prevent exposure to attack vectors

To prevent exposure to attack vectors, you only need effort and knowledge. While we cannot physically provide the former, we can definitely share some of the latter. Here’s what you need to know to keep your networks more secure.

• Train your employees. Having cybersecurity-savvy colleagues significantly reduces the chances of your company being exposed to social engineering attacks (such as phishing) and MITM attacks. Such training will also help prevent exposure to these attack vectors while forming and improving employees’ personal cybersecurity habits.
• Keep systems up to date. Software becomes obsolete fast. And obsolete systems are much easier to hack. App, system, and software updates often come with upgraded security features, meaning you should never postpone important system updates.
• Use additional security measures. Two-factor authentication, password managers, and VPNs are all useful tools for improving online network security. Use them.
• Avoid suspicious websites. To verify a website’s safety, look at the domain bar. See the padlock next to the site name? Click it. If you’re now presented with options to check the security certificate, it’s a good indicator that the site is legitimate and protected with TLS encryption. However, since some phishing websites use TLS with fake certificates, you can (and should) double-check it just to be sure. If the certificate seems fake or you can’t see the padlock in the first place, you should leave the website immediately.
• Protect the cloud. No, it’s not a call for eco-friendly initiatives (although we’re all for it), but rather advice to safeguard your IT cloud infrastructure. With hackers fiercely targeting cloud infrastructure, prioritizing protection against misconfiguration, control plane, and identity-based attacks would be a smart move.
• Keep an eye on the latest info. Threat intelligence is your friend, so don’t pass on investing some time and money into learning the latest cybersecurity trends. Knowing what dangers lurk outside your network can help you better prepare for potential attacks.
• Test, test, test. While you may be confident about your network’s cybersecurity, you can never be too sure how it will fare against a real cyberattack. Perform regular security tests to find vulnerabilities and improve cybersecurity teams’ response time. Consider testing employee awareness as well (for example, by sending fake phishing emails).

Finally, safeguard your internet traffic and upgrade shoddy encryption by using NordVPN. When you redirect your traffic through a VPN server, your activity will be protected behind bulletproof encryption. Even if a hacker were to try to brute force their way in, it would take them literally thousands of years with current technology.

Additionally, NordVPN’s Threat Protection Pro™ feature will block your access to websites that are known to host malware. This way, you can stop the threats before they reach your device.