Learn about the various types of cyberattacks organisations face today and how you can guard against them to keep yourself, your information, and your business safer.
Cyberattacks are highly costly for individuals and organisations who fall victim to them. According to the UK government’s Cybersecurity Breaches Survey 2023, cyberattacks cost an average of £15,300 per business in the UK per year [1]. With this number only expected to increase in the coming years, cybercrime will continue to be a significant concern.
Multiple factors contribute to the growth of cyberattacks. For example, inflation has increased the cost of preventing cyberattacks, so some companies have difficulties fitting cybersecurity measures within their budget, leaving them vulnerable. Geopolitical tension worldwide has also led to an increase in politically motivated cyberattacks.
In this article, you can explore cyberattacks, the various types to look out for, and ways to help protect yourself or your organisation.
A cyberattack is an attempt to steal, alter, destroy, disrupt, or disable information resources and systems found in computer networks and systems. Cyberattacks can fit into two categories: insider threats or outsider threats. Insider threats stem from individuals with legitimate access to the systems they target, using their access to exploit vulnerabilities intentionally or inadvertently. For example, a dissatisfied or angry employee or a contractor with access to the organisation’s systems could commit these threats. An outsider threat is from someone who doesn’t have any affiliation with the system they’re attacking, such as criminal organisations or hackers.
Cyberattackers commonly target industries such as health care, government, non-profits, and finance companies. The health care industry has been especially susceptible to being targeted by attackers because health care organisations have access to many people's personal data. Since health care infrastructure is so critical, ransomware attackers understand that these organisations will likely pay their demands quickly.
Confidential information, such as social security numbers, also causes government organisations to fall victim to hackers. Nonprofits are unique in that they possess financial data from donors and fundraising efforts, making them ideal targets for cyberattacks. Institutions like banks and insurance companies are common targets for extortion and theft due to their access to significant money in the finance industry.
Cyberattacks can have motives other than financial gain. Some cyberattacks focus on destroying or gaining access to critical data.
Organisations and individuals face the following types of typical cyberattacks:
Cyberattackers use harmful software such as spyware, viruses, ransomware, and worms known as malware to access your system's data. When you click on a malicious attachment or link, the malware can install itself and become active on your device.
Phishing attacks rely on communication methods like email to convince you to open the message and follow the instructions. If you follow the attackers’ instructions, they gain access to personal data, such as credit cards, and can install malware on your device.
Cyberattackers sometimes imitate people or companies to trick you into giving up personal information. Spoofing can happen in different ways. A common strategy involves using a fake caller ID, where the person receiving the call doesn’t see that the number is falsified. Other spoofing methods include subverting facial recognition systems, using a fake domain name, or creating a bogus website.
Backdoor Trojan attacks involve malicious programs that can deceptively install malware or data and open a “backdoor” to your computer system. When attackers gain access to the backdoor, they can hijack the device without the user's knowledge.
Ransomware is malicious software that bad actors can install on your device, allowing them to block your access until you pay the attackers a ransom. However, paying the ransom doesn’t guarantee the removal of the software, so experts often advise individuals not to pay the ransom if possible.
Password attacks can be as simple as someone correctly guessing your password or other methods such as keylogging, where attackers can monitor the information you type and then identify passwords. An attacker can also use the aforementioned phishing approach to masquerade as a trusted site and try to fool you into revealing your account credentials.
Communication channels between connected IoT components and the applications and software found on IoT devices can be susceptible to cyberattacks. IoT devices connect with one another through the internet and may have limited security features, which offers attackers a larger attack surface to target.
Cryptojacking involves gaining unauthorised access to a computer system, usually through malware that allows the attacker to use the computer's resources to mine cryptocurrency. Mining cryptocurrency can come with significant operational costs, so cryptojacking provides attackers with a way to avoid these expenses.
Drive-by download attacks occur when malicious code is downloaded to your device through an app, website, or operating system with flawed security systems. You could do nothing wrong and still be a victim of a drive-by download since it can occur due to a lack of security measures on a site you believe to be safe.
A denial-of-service attack causes an entire device or operating system to shut down by overwhelming it with traffic, causing it to crash. Attackers don’t often use this method to steal information. Instead, it costs the victim time and money to get their systems up and running again. Cybercriminals typically use this method when the target is a trade organisation or government entity.
An essential first step in preventing cyberattacks is ensuring you and other employees at your organisation know the potential for cyberattacks. Being mindful before clicking links and checking the email address to ensure it appears legitimate can go a long way in ensuring your data and systems are kept safe.
The following offers some useful tips to prevent cyberattacks:
Up-to-date software systems are more resilient than outdated versions, which may be prone to having weaknesses. Updates can correct any flaws and weaknesses in the software, so having the latest version is optimal. Additionally, consider keeping software systems updated by investing in a patch management system.
Firewalls help prevent various attacks, such as backdoors and denial-of-service attacks. They work by controlling the network traffic moving through your system. A firewall will also stop any suspicious activity it deems potentially harmful to the computer.
When you back up data, you move it to a different, secure location for storage. Doing this might involve using cloud storage or a physical device like a hard drive. In case of an attack, backing up your data allows you to recover any lost data.
Data encryption is a popular way to prevent cyberattacks. It ensures data is only accessible to those who have the decryption key. To successfully attack encrypted data, attackers often have to rely on the brute force method of trying different keys until they can guess the right one, making breaking the encryption challenging.
You should have strong passwords to prevent attacks and avoid using the same passwords for different accounts and systems. Using the same password repeatedly increases the risk of giving attackers access to all your information. Regularly updating your passwords and using passwords that combine special characters, upper and lowercase letters, and numbers can help protect your accounts.
The United Kingdom’s government notes that the majority of cybersecurity attacks remain relatively unsophisticated. However, the Cybersecurity Breaches Survey 2023 also reveals that while 32 percent of UK businesses have experienced a cyberattack in the past 12 months, the proportion grows along with the company's size, with 59 percent of medium-sized businesses and 69 percent of large firms experiencing a breach in that same period [1].
Given the UK’s rising demand for cybersecurity professionals, it may be the right time to continue learning about the industry and developing the skills you need for an in-demand role in cybersecurity. For example, you can earn a CV-boosting credential with a Professional Certificate from industry leaders like Google, IBM, or Microsoft on Coursera. You can also get hands-on experience with cybersecurity tools and techniques.
Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology. “Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2023, https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2023/cyber-security-breaches-survey-2023.” Accessed 6 May 2024.
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