A cyber-attack occurs when an individual hacker or a group of hackers compromise a digital system. In rare instances, however, cyber-attacks may be accidental, like when insider threat leads to unintentional data leakage.  

Cyber-attackers have different motives. Mostly, a cyber-attacker is seeking financial gain, but it is not uncommon for an attacker to be motivated by political reasons also known as “hacktivisim,” and personal recognition or achievement.  

The threats countered by cybersecurity are three-fold:

1. Cybercrime: This involves single actors or groups targeting systems for financial gain or to cause disruption.

2. Cyber-attack: Often politically motivated, these attacks aim to gather sensitive information.

3. Cyberterrorism: These attacks are intended to undermine electronic systems, causing panic or fear.

Common cyber attacks

‍Malware

Malware is malicious software designed by cyber-criminals to infiltrate a device or system and disrupt, steal, or exploit sensitive information. There are many types of malware and each involve a different method of exploitation. However, in most cases the cyber-criminal wants to access the sensitive information to financially benefit themselves through the form of ransom or identity theft.

Ransomware

Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts valuable files on a victim’s device, denies the account holder access, and demands money in exchange for the encryption key. Ransomware has been increasingly difficult to deal with, especially with ransom payments made in crypto currency, which is largely untraceable. Ransomware can enter a system by clicking a link dangerous or downloading malicious files.

Supply chain attacks

‍A cyber-criminal can target a supply chain by developing an understanding of business operations and associated parties/vendors to compromise one or multiple parts of the chain. To do so, cyber-criminals use a variety of tactics to solicit information, obtain account details, or install malware on a victim’s device. Once access to the supply chain is obtained, the cyber-criminal can begin to spread malicious content or cause disruption throughout the supply chain.  

Identity theft

‍Identity theft occurs when a cyber-criminal solicits sensitive information that certifies a victim’s identity. This could include a social security number, driver’s license information, credit card numbers, account passwords, and anything else that helps verify the victim’s identity to third parties.  

Phishing

The process of sending fraudulent emails while posing as legitimate sender to convince people to reveal sensitive information such as passwords, social security numbers, bank account information, and more.  

Smishing

Smishing, short for "SMS phishing," is a cyber-attack that uses text messages to trick people into revealing sensitive information or installing malware on their devices. Smishing attacks often involve sending fraudulent messages that appear to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank, social media site, or other trusted organization.

Account takeover

‍Account compromise refers to a cyber-criminal’s gaining control of a legitimate account. This can happen when a threat actor successfully obtains an individual’s login credentials. Account takeover can be detrimental to business operations at any organization because with a legitimate account, attackers can operate covertly and credibility and authority, depending on who’s account is compromised.

Botnet

‍Short for “robot network” a botnet is a network of devices that are under control of an attacker or attacking party. When a system or computer is compromised it becomes a “bot” and is controlled by the “bot-herder” or “bot-master.” The devices in the botnet can then be used to commit Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.

DDoS attack (Distributed Denial of Service)

A DDoS attack occurs when an attacker floods a server with traffic using a botnet, making that server inaccessible to users. This is particularly harmful to organizations who have public facing sites through which they conduct business activity, such as e-commerce businesses.

SQL Injection

An SQL (Structured Query Language) injection attack involves inserting malicious code into a database through a vulnerable data-driven application. This gives cybercriminals access to sensitive information within the database.

Man-in-the-Middle Attack

In a man-in-the-middle attack, cybercriminals intercept communications between two parties to steal data. For example, on an unsecured WiFi network, an attacker could intercept data being transferred between a victim's device and the network.

Additional Cyber Attacks

Trojans

Trojans are a type of malware disguised as legitimate software. Once installed, they can cause extensive damage by stealing data, disrupting operations, or providing backdoor access to cybercriminals.

Adware

Adware displays unwanted advertisements on a user’s system. While often annoying, adware can also collect data without consent and serve as a gateway for more malicious software.

Spyware

Spyware secretly monitors user activity, capturing sensitive information like login credentials and financial data. This information is then sent to the attacker, often without the user’s knowledge.

Formjacking

Formjacking involves injecting malicious code into online forms, such as those found on e-commerce websites. When users enter their payment details, the data is captured and sent to the attacker.

Cybercrime, Cyber-Attacks, and Cyber Terrorism

Cybercrime

Cybercrime includes activities where individuals or groups target systems for financial gain or to cause disruption. This can range from identity theft and fraud to more sophisticated operations like ransomware attacks.

Cyber-Attack

Cyber-attacks often have political motivations. These attacks aim to gather sensitive information, disrupt services, or undermine the target's operations. Governments and large organizations are common targets of such attacks.

Cyberterrorism

Cyberterrorism aims to cause panic, fear, or significant disruption. These attacks can target critical infrastructure, financial systems, or public services, intending to cause widespread damage and chaos.

Creating a cyber attack recovery plan is essential for maintaining business continuity. Prepare ahead by identifying risks, backing up data, and establishing response protocols. After an attack, swift action is crucial. The following sections will cover preparation tips, immediate response steps, and long-term recovery strategies for your cyber disaster recovery efforts.

Start With Prevention

Preventing a cyber attack is the first line of defense for any business. Here are essential protections everyone should implement to form a strong cyber attack recovery plan:

1. Use Strong Passwords: Ensure all passwords are long, unique, and complex, combining letters, numbers, and special characters. This makes it significantly harder for attackers to guess or crack passwords.

2. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication: Adding an extra layer of security with multi-factor authentication (MFA) can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access. MFA requires users to verify their identity through multiple means before gaining access.

3. Regularly Update Software: Keep all operating systems, applications, and antivirus software up-to-date to protect against vulnerabilities. Cyber attackers often exploit outdated software, so timely updates are crucial.

4. Secure Your Network: Implement firewalls, encrypt sensitive information, and hide your Wi-Fi network to prevent unauthorized access. A well-secured network acts as a barrier against many types of cyber attacks.

5. Educate Employees: Train staff on recognizing phishing emails, the importance of strong passwords, and the protocols for reporting suspicious activities. Employees are often the first line of defense, and their awareness can prevent many attacks.

6. Implement Security Policies: Establish clear security policies and practices, including access controls and data protection guidelines. These policies should outline acceptable behaviors and the steps to take in the event of a security breach.

7. Regular Data Backups: Ensure that all critical data is backed up regularly. This practice is vital for cyber disaster recovery, allowing businesses to restore lost data quickly and maintain operations with minimal disruption.

8. Use Secure Internet Communications: Only use websites with “HTTPS” for any transactions or data exchanges. This ensures that data transmitted is encrypted and secure.

9. Monitor and Report Suspicious Activity: Set up systems to monitor network activity and report any suspicious behavior immediately. Early detection can prevent minor issues from becoming major security incidents.

When a cyber-attack has already occurred, the next step is to remain calm and conduct professional damage control. Here's a structured approach to cyber attack recovery:

1. Immediate Response: Quickly isolate affected systems to prevent the spread of the attack. Disconnect from the internet, disable remote access, and maintain firewall settings. Preserve evidence for forensic analysis by not deleting any data.

2. Assess the Damage: Determine the scope of the breach. Identify which systems were compromised and what data was accessed. Understanding the full impact is crucial for an effective response.

3. Consult Legal Counsel: Engage with legal experts to ensure compliance with all regulatory requirements. They can guide you on the necessary notifications to authorities and affected individuals.

4. Notify Stakeholders: Communicate promptly and transparently with customers, employees, investors, and regulators. Provide accurate information about the incident, its impact, and steps being taken to address it. Transparency helps maintain trust.

5. Activate Incident Response Team: Your incident response team should include cybersecurity experts, legal advisors, PR specialists, and IT professionals. This team will manage the containment, investigation, and communication efforts.

6. Contain and Eradicate the Threat: Work swiftly to eliminate the threat from your systems. Apply security patches, change passwords, and enhance security measures to prevent further breaches. Utilize automated security remediation to ensure threats are promptly addressed.

7. Support Affected Individuals: Offer support to those impacted by the breach, such as credit monitoring or identity theft protection services. This shows your commitment to mitigating the damage and rebuilding trust.

8. Review and Improve Security: Conduct a thorough review of the incident to understand how it happened and what can be improved. Update your cyber disaster recovery plan and strengthen security protocols to prevent future attacks.

Strengthening your security infrastructure is crucial in protecting your business from future cyber-attacks. Here are some strategies to enhance your security measures:

1. Hire or Expand Your Security Team: Bringing on dedicated cybersecurity professionals or expanding your current team ensures continuous monitoring and quick response to potential threats.

2. Implement Strong Firewalls: A well-configured firewall is your first line of defense, blocking unauthorized access and managing network traffic effectively.

3. Use Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS): An IPS can detect and prevent security breaches by monitoring network traffic for suspicious activities and automatically taking action.

4. Regularly Update Software and Firmware: Keep all systems, including routers and firewalls, updated to protect against known vulnerabilities.

5. Conduct Regular Security Audits: Regularly scan your network using tools like Nmap to identify and fix vulnerabilities. This proactive approach helps in maintaining a robust security posture.

6. Implement Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Limit access to sensitive information based on user roles. This minimizes the risk of internal threats and data breaches.

7. Utilize Virtual Private Networks (VPNs): Ensure that remote employees use VPNs to secure their connection and protect company data from interception.

8. Adopt Zero-Trust Security Model: This approach requires verification from everyone trying to access resources in your network, ensuring that even internal users are continuously authenticated and authorized.

9. Back Up Critical Data Regularly: Regular backups ensure that you can quickly recover your data in the event of a cyber attack. Store backups securely, preferably offsite or in the cloud.

10. Educate Employees on Cyber Hygiene: Conduct regular training sessions to teach employees about phishing, password management, and safe internet practices.

11. Deploy Automated Security Remediation: Use automated tools to quickly respond to and remediate security incidents. This reduces the time attackers have to exploit vulnerabilities.

12. Engage Cyber Resilience Services: These services help maintain a high level of security readiness by regularly assessing and improving your security measures.

Investing in advanced security solutions is essential to protect your business from cyber threats. Darktrace provides cutting-edge technology that uses artificial intelligence to detect and respond to cyber attacks in real-time. With its self-learning capabilities, Darktrace adapts to your unique network, identifying and mitigating threats before they cause harm.

Strengthen your security posture with Darktrace's comprehensive suite of tools designed for proactive defense. Contact us today to learn how Darktrace can enhance your cybersecurity strategy and ensure your business remains resilient against ever-evolving cyber threats. Secure your future with Darktrace.