Cyberattacks are a persistent threat to organizations across the globe. With ever-evolving tactics, attackers exploit vulnerabilities in systems, networks, and human behavior. Let’s dive into the 12 most common types of cyberattacks and how NVIS AI’s advanced solution can provide robust defense mechanisms against these threats.

Malware

Malware, short for malicious software, refers to any software designed to cause harm to a computer, server, or network. This broad category includes ransomware, trojans, spyware, worms, and more. Malware typically infiltrates systems through phishing emails, infected websites, or compromised software downloads. Once inside, malware can steal sensitive data, corrupt files, and even take control of systems.

For example, ransomware encrypts a victim’s data and demands payment for its release. Trojans often masquerade as legitimate software, tricking users into installing them, only to compromise the system from within. Spyware silently monitors user activity, while worms replicate and spread across networks, causing widespread damage.

Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks

A Denial-of-Service attack overwhelms a system, network, or website with an influx of traffic, rendering it inoperable for legitimate users. By bombarding servers with false requests, attackers disrupt access to critical services, causing downtime and financial loss. Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks are an amplified version of this, where multiple systems are used to launch the attack, making it harder to mitigate.

DoS and DDoS attacks don’t typically result in data theft but can cost organizations time and resources to restore operations. These attacks are often used as a smokescreen for other malicious activities, such as data breaches.

Phishing

Phishing is one of the most common social engineering attacks, where attackers trick individuals into sharing sensitive information such as passwords, credit card details, or company secrets. This often takes the form of fake emails or websites that appear to be from trusted sources, but in reality, are designed to steal data.

Variations of phishing include spear phishing, which targets specific individuals or organizations, and whaling, where senior executives are targeted for higher-value information. Smishing and vishing extend phishing to SMS and phone calls, where attackers attempt to deceive individuals into divulging information through text messages or phone conversations.

Spoofing

Spoofing is a technique where cybercriminals disguise their identity to make their actions appear as if they are coming from a legitimate or trusted source. This can be done via emails (email spoofing), domains (domain spoofing), or even through network protocols such as ARP (Address Resolution Protocol).

The goal of spoofing is to manipulate victims into taking actions like clicking on malicious links or downloading malware, believing the communication is from a trusted entity. Spoofing can lead to significant security breaches, as attackers can gain unauthorized access to systems or sensitive data.

Identity-based attacks

Identity-based attacks exploit compromised credentials, allowing attackers to impersonate legitimate users. Once inside a network, attackers can escalate privileges, move laterally, and gain access to critical systems or sensitive data. These attacks are difficult to detect, as attackers often mimic normal user behavior.

Common identity-based attacks include pass-the-hash, where attackers steal hashed credentials, and golden ticket attacks, where attackers use Kerberos authentication vulnerabilities to gain unlimited access to a network. Credential stuffing and brute force attacks further target weak or reused passwords.

Code injection attacks

Code injection attacks occur when attackers inject malicious code into a vulnerable system, exploiting software flaws. This code can execute commands that compromise the integrity or security of the system. The two most common types are SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS).

In SQL injection, attackers manipulate queries sent to a database, allowing them to access or modify data. XSS, on the other hand, targets web applications by injecting malicious scripts that run in a user’s browser. These scripts can steal session tokens, cookies, or sensitive data.

Supply chain attacks

Supply chain attacks exploit vulnerabilities in an organization’s supply chain, often targeting trusted third-party vendors. Instead of directly attacking a high-value target, adversaries compromise the third-party software or hardware provider, embedding malicious code or altering components to infiltrate the primary target.

These attacks have become increasingly common due to the interconnectedness of modern software development, where off-the-shelf components are frequently used in applications. By compromising a vendor, attackers gain widespread access to numerous organizations and their data.

Social engineering attacks

Social engineering attacks manipulate individuals into performing actions or divulging confidential information. Attackers exploit human psychology, such as fear, trust, or urgency, to trick victims into bypassing security protocols.

Pretexting, where attackers create a fabricated scenario to gain the victim’s trust, and business email compromise (BEC), where attackers impersonate senior employees or vendors to authorize fraudulent transactions, are common forms of social engineering. Tailgating or piggybacking, where an attacker physically follows someone into a secure area, also falls into this category.

Insider threats

Insider threats originate from within an organization and are carried out by employees, contractors, or partners with access to sensitive systems or data. These individuals may act maliciously or unintentionally compromise security through negligence.

Malicious insiders often steal intellectual property, financial data, or trade secrets for personal gain or to sell on the black market. Negligent insiders may inadvertently download malware, fall for phishing schemes, or improperly handle sensitive data, putting the organization at risk.

DNS tunneling

DNS tunneling leverages the Domain Name System (DNS) to transmit malware or steal data. Attackers encode malicious data into DNS queries, bypassing traditional security measures. Once inside the network, the hacker can communicate with the infected device and exfiltrate sensitive data.

DNS tunneling attacks can be difficult to detect because DNS traffic is usually considered safe and trusted. Attackers can use this method to bypass firewalls and intrusion detection systems, making it a favored tool for data theft and espionage.

IoT-based attacks

Internet of Things (IoT) devices, such as smart cameras, appliances, or wearables, are increasingly common in both consumer and enterprise environments. However, these devices often lack robust security protocols, making them vulnerable to cyberattacks. Once compromised, attackers can control the device, access its data, or even use it as part of a botnet for larger attacks, such as DDoS attacks.

As the number of IoT devices grows, so does the attack surface, creating new opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit weakly protected endpoints.

AI-powered attacks

With advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), cybercriminals are beginning to leverage these technologies to launch more sophisticated attacks. Adversarial AI can manipulate ML models by injecting false data, leading to incorrect outputs. Deepfake technology creates convincing fake media, which can be used to manipulate public perception or damage reputations.

AI can also be used in social engineering, where AI-powered chatbots or assistants engage with users to extract sensitive information.

How NVIS AI addresses cyber threats

Now that we’ve explored the most common cyber threats, let’s look at how NVIS AI can serve as a comprehensive solution to these evolving risks.

• Zero Trust architecture: NVIS AI’s zero-trust model ensures that no entity, whether internal or external, is trusted by default. This stops attacks such as identity-based intrusions or insider threats by continuously verifying every access request.

• Layer 2 encryption: This encryption method ensures that even if attackers intercept traffic, they are unable to decipher the information, protecting against data theft during transit.

• Immutable blockchain technology: NVIS AI leverages blockchain to maintain secure, tamper-proof audit trails. This technology ensures that any unauthorized changes to logs or data are instantly flagged, which helps in detecting APTs, supply chain attacks, or insider threats.

By integrating advanced technologies like blockchain, Layer 2 encryption, and zero trust, NVIS AI equips organizations with the tools they need to fight back against the most persistent and dangerous cyber threats.

Conclusion

Cyberattacks are evolving, and organizations must remain vigilant to defend against these ever-growing threats. With a comprehensive understanding of the types of attacks and how NVIS AI can mitigate them, businesses can protect their data and operations, ensuring a more secure digital future.

If you’re ready to safeguard your organization, contact NVIS AI today to learn more about how our cutting-edge solutions can fortify your defenses against cyber threats.

Schedule a demo or contact our team of experts today.