Title: Types of Cyber Attacks | Hacking Attacks & Techniques | Rapid7
Headings: Common Types of Cybersecurity Attacks
Common Types of Cybersecurity Attacks
Jump to:
Malware
Phishing
SQL Injection Attack
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
Denial-of-Service (DoS)
Session Hijacking and Man-in-the-Middle Attacks
Credential Reuse

Content: Attackers know this, too. When an attacker wants you to install malware or divulge sensitive information, they often turn to phishing tactics, or pretending to be someone or something else to get you to take an action you normally wouldn’t. Since they rely on human curiosity and impulses, phishing attacks can be difficult to stop. In a phishing attack, an attacker may send you an email that appears to be from someone you trust, like your boss or a company you do business with. The email will seem legitimate, and it will have some urgency to it (e.g. fraudulent activity has been detected on your account). In the email, there will be an attachment to open or a link to click. Upon opening the malicious attachment, you’ll thereby install malware in your computer. If you click the link, it may send you to a legitimate-looking website that asks for you to log in to access an important file—except the website is actually a trap used to capture your credentials when you try to log in. In order to combat phishing attempts, understanding the importance of verifying email senders and attachments/links is essential. Learn more about phishing attacks.