Most common cybersecurity threats

What are cybersecurity threats?

Cybersecurity threats are online risks that arise from malicious actions, system vulnerabilities, or human error. They can jeopardize sensitive data, disrupt operations, or damage critical digital infrastructure such as computer systems and online networks. Cyber threats can range from malicious (hacker attacks) to accidental (employees inadvertently leaking corporate login credentials). However, regardless of intent, every cybersecurity threat can expose a company’s or individual’s sensitive information, causing significant reputational, legal, or financial damage.

Cybersecurity ​​threats can be direct, like hacking a computer network, or indirect, like spreading malware through a popular website. Anyone using digital technology can be affected. Individuals might face identity theft, financial loss, or privacy breaches from phishing attacks, malware, and scams. Businesses risk data breaches, theft of ideas, and disruptions, which lead to financial loss, potential lawsuits, and reputational damage. Governments and public institutions can face espionage, infrastructure sabotage, and national security threats, like attacks on power grids or communication networks.

Types of cybersecurity threats

Let’s explore some of the most common cybersecurity threats currently active on the internet.

• Malware attacks

• Social engineering attacks

• Denial-of-Service attacks (DoS)

• Man-in-the-middle attacks (MitM)

• Supply chain attacks

• Injection attacks

• Internet of Things (IoT) attacks

• Advanced persistent threats (APTs)

• Zero-day exploits

• Password attacks

Malware attacks

Malware is malicious software designed to compromise, damage, or disrupt systems. The main types of malware include:

• Viruses. These are malicious software programs designed to replicate and spread from one computer to another. They often attach themselves to legitimate files. Once activated, viruses can corrupt or delete data and disrupt system operations.
• Trojans. These are deceptive malware programs that disguise themselves as legitimate software or files to gain access to a user's system. Once inside, they can create backdoors for other malware, steal data, or harm the system. Unlike viruses, trojans do not self-replicate and usually rely on social engineering to be installed.
• Ransomware. Ransomware is a type of cyberattack that targets both individuals and companies. Hackers launch ransomware attacks by encrypting a user's files or locking their system and demanding a ransom payment to restore access.
• Spyware. Spyware is software designed to monitor and collect information secretly without the user's consent. It can track keystrokes and capture screenshots to steal sensitive data such as login credentials or financial details.
• Adware. This type of malware automatically displays or downloads unwanted advertisements to a user's computer. While often less malicious than other types of malware, it can still affect system performance
• Cryptojacking. The unauthorized use of a person's computer resources to mine cryptocurrency, often without the user's knowledge, is called cryptojacking. This type of malware can significantly slow down a system, increase power consumption, and cause hardware wear and tear.

According to online threat statistics, malware is one of the most common online threats. To protect against malware attacks, always keep your software and operating system up to date, use strong antivirus programs, and avoid downloading or opening suspicious files or links.

Additionally, you can use NordVPN's anti-phishing and anti-malware features (such as Threat Protection Pro™), which will block dangerous websites, detect new threats, and provide protection across all your devices.

Social engineering attacks

Social engineering attacks use deceptive tactics to trick people into revealing confidential information. The most popular social engineering tactics in cyberspace include:

• Phishing. This type of scam uses fake emails or messages to trick people into giving away personal information like passwords or credit card numbers. These messages often look like they come from trusted sources.
• Spear phishing. It's a targeted phishing attack aimed at a specific person or organization. The attacker customizes the message to make it look personal and relevant to increase the chances of fooling the victim.
• Whaling. Whaling is a type of a scam that targets high-level individuals, like executives, within an organization. These attacks are carefully crafted to exploit the authority and access of these critical people to steal sensitive data or money.
• Baiting. Baiting scams use the promise of something enticing, like free software or downloads, to trick people into compromising their security. For example, threat actors may leave an infected USB drive in a public place or bombard users with ads that have malicious links, leading to malware installation or data theft.
• Pretexting. Pretexting is a technique in which the attacker invents a fake story or pretext to obtain information from the victim. They might pretend to be someone trustworthy, like a bank employee or tech support, to trick the victim into revealing sensitive details.
• Watering hole attacks. Watering hole attacks work by tricking a specific group of people, or an organization, into visiting malicious websites and downloading malware. Scammers often do some research on websites that members of the group are known to visit and use that knowledge to infect target webpages with malware.
• Scareware. Scarware is a type of malicious software that tricks users into thinking their computer has a virus. It urges them to buy fake antivirus programs or provide personal information, using alarming messages to create fear and urgency.

Denial-of-Service attacks (DoS)

Denial-of-service (DoS) and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks are the types of cyberthreats that aim to crash the target’s online systems. DoS attacks flood a network with so much traffic that it can't handle legitimate requests, while DDoS attacks use many computers to overwhelm the system even more, causing major disruptions.

DoS and DDoS are also a part of cyber intrusion strategies (techniques used to break into systems and disrupt the network or steal data). These strategies include cyberthreats such as DNS spoofing, drive-by download attacks, credential stuffing, and session hijacking.

Man-in-the-middle attacks (MitM)

Man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks are cyberthreats during which hackers secretly intercept and (sometimes) alter communications between two parties. Doing so allows attackers to steal or manipulate sensitive information being exchanged. This cyber risk is particularly relevant to those who use public Wi-Fi hotspots, because bad actors can lurk in open networks without being spotted, preying on anyone who connects to the hotspot without additional security measures (such as a VPN).

Like DoS attacks, MitM attacks are also a part of a particular category of cyberthreats. Cybersecurity experts designate man-in-the-middle attacks as being within the category exploits and vulnerabilities, along with risks such as buffer overflows, privilege escalation, and remote code execution (RCE). 

Supply chain attacks

Supply chain attacks target organizations by exploiting weaknesses in third-party components or services they rely on. These attacks can compromise an organization’s cybersecurity by first breaching suppliers, vendors, or other partners and then using those connections to infiltrate the primary target. Supply chain attacks can include:

• Third-party software compromises. These attacks happen when attackers exploit weaknesses in software provided by outside vendors. This can lead to unauthorized access or data breaches in the central organization using that software.
• Hardware attacks. Such attacks involve tampering with or exploiting problems in physical devices like computers or network equipment. Attackers might add malicious hardware or exploit flaws to access or damage the system.

Injection attacks

Injection attacks refer to cyberthreats such as SQL injection that target weaknesses in web forms by inserting malicious code or SQL commands. These commands can let attackers access or change data in the website's database. 

Cross-site scripting (XSS) is another example of injection attack, during which bad actors insert harmful scripts into web pages that users visit. These scripts allow cybercriminals to steal information (for example, browsing cookies) or login credentials from unsuspecting users.

Internet of Things (IoT) attacks

Attacks targeting devices and IoT (Internet of Things) involve taking advantage of weaknesses in connected devices like smart home gadgets, cameras, and other networked equipment. These attacks can exploit security flaws in these devices to gain unauthorized access, steal sensitive information, or cause other problems. The most popular methods include:

• Botnets are networks of infected computers controlled by hackers to perform various malicious tasks, such as sending spam or attacking websites. These computers are used without their owners' knowledge to spread malware or disrupt services.
• Unpatched devices, which have not received updates to fix security problems. Attackers can exploit these outdated devices to gain access or cause damage.
• Rogue devices are unauthorized devices that connect to a network. Attackers can use them to access the network, steal data, or harm other connected systems.

Advanced persistent threats (APTs)

Advanced persistent threats (APTs) are complex, long-term cyber threats trying to achieve specific goals. Unlike typical attacks, APTs work quietly over extended periods to gather sensitive information or accomplish strategic objectives. The main types of APTs are:

• State-sponsored attacks. Cyberattacks carried out by or for a government. They seek to achieve specific political, military, or economic objectives, often targeting the critical infrastructure, government agencies, or key industries of other countries.
• Corporate espionage. This type of attack happens when individuals or groups steal confidential business information to gain an edge over competitors. They gather confidential data by hacking into systems or exploiting insider threats.

Zero-day exploits

Zero-day exploits are attacks that target weaknesses in business software. The weaknesses are usually unknown to the developers and have no available fix, making it a perfect blindspot for the attacker to exploit. Bad actors use these vulnerabilities to break into systems before the issue is resolved and cause harm by stealing data, installing malware, or gaining unauthorized access.

Password attacks

Password attacks are cyberthreats that involve compromising passwords to get unauthorized access to a system. From keylogging to dictionary attacks — threat actors have tons of options to perform password attacks, including: 

• Brute-force attacks. Brute-force attacks describe the tactic of attackers trying many different passwords until they find the right one. This method can eventually crack passwords if they are weak or simple.
• Password spraying. Password spraying is a type of cyberattack that involves threat actors trying a few common passwords on many accounts. This method works well because it prevents getting locked out and targets accounts with simple passwords.
• Credential stuffing. Credential stuffing is a scam tactic, during which attackers use stolen usernames and passwords from one site to try and break into other accounts. Since people often use the same login details for multiple sites, attackers can access many accounts.

How to protect sensitive information from cybersecurity threats

Protecting sensitive and personal information online is necessary to stay safe from cybersecurity threats. Here are some essential tips to help businesses and individuals keep their sensitive data safe and improve personal cybersecurity:

• Use strong, unique passwords. Create complex passwords that are difficult to guess and use different passwords for different accounts. Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) and consider using a password manager to keep track of your credentials easily.
• Regularly test and update software. This is a tip that’s especially useful for business owners. Since hackers continue to find new ways of breaching systems, making sure your networks are up to date is one of the best ways to maintain their safety. So keep your company’s software, operating system, applications, and individual networks updated to protect against the latest vulnerabilities and threats.
• Invest in employee cybersecurity training. Often, malicious actors target low-level employees to trick them into providing unauthorized access to sensitive data. These ploys have a higher success rate when the target’s unaware of basic scam tactics (such as phishing or social engineering). Investing in employee cybersecurity training can help your business reduce the risk of cyberthreats and maintain a higher level of online security.
• Keep track of the latest threat intelligence news. Threat intelligence is essential for defending against cybersecurity threats. Dedicating some time to it can help you and your business create threat-hunting plans, assist in cyber threat monitoring, and prepare countermeasures in case of a cyberattack. Additionally, it can be beneficial to know how to prevent cyberattacks.
• Be cautious with emails and links. Avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources. These could be phishing attempts designed to steal your personal information.
• Secure your home network. Regardless if it’s for work or personal use, ensure your home network is protected with a strong password and encryption. Use a secure Wi-Fi protocol (such as WPA3), regularly update your router's firmware, and consider using a virtual private network (VPN) for more security.
• Be aware of what you share. Avoid posting sensitive personal information online, such as your address, phone number, or financial details, to protect yourself from cyber threats.