A cyberattack is a malicious act targeting a computer or any component of a computerized information system with the intent to alter, destroy, or steal data, or to exploit or damage a network. As businesses increasingly embrace digitization, cyberattacks have become more prevalent.

While there are numerous types of cyberattacks, the following list highlights the 20 most common examples.

1. DoS and DDoS attacks
2. MITM attacks
3. Phishing attacks
4. Whale-phishing attacks
5. Spear-phishing attacks
6. Ransomware
7. Password Attacks
8. SQL injection attacks
9. URL interpretation
10. DNS Spoofing
11. Session hijacking
12. Brute force attacks
13. Web attacks
14. Insider threats
15. Trojan horse
16. Drive-by Attacks
17. XSS attacks
18. Eavesdropping attacks
19. Birthday attack
20. Malware attack

01.  DoS and DDoS Attacks:

Overwhelming a system with traffic to render it inaccessible.

For instance, a website might become slow or unavailable due to a flood of requests from malicious sources.

02.  MITM Attacks:

Intercepting communication between two parties to eavesdrop or manipulate data.

This can be likened to someone listening in on a phone conversation or tampering with a letter in transit.

03.  Phishing Attacks:

Deceiving users into revealing sensitive information through fraudulent emails, SMS messages, or phone calls.

A common example is a fake email that appears to be from a bank, asking for login credentials.

04.  Whale-phishing Attacks:

Targeting high-profile individuals within organizations for financial gain or sensitive information. A CEO might receive a targeted email with a malicious link or attachment.

05.  Spear-phishing Attacks:

Targeted phishing attacks aimed at specific individuals or organizations.

A company might receive a phishing email tailored to their specific industry or recent events.

06.  Ransomware:

Malware that encrypts files and demands a ransom for decryption.

A user might find their files inaccessible and a ransom note demanding payment.

07.  Password Attacks:

Using techniques like brute force or dictionary attacks to crack passwords.

An attacker might try various password combinations to gain access to an account.

08.  SQL Injection Attacks:

Exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications to manipulate databases.

An attacker could inject malicious code into a web form to steal sensitive data.

09.  URL Interpretation:

Manipulating the way a web browser interprets URLs to redirect users to malicious websites. A user might click on a seemingly legitimate link but be redirected to a phishing site.

10.  DNS Spoofing:

Redirecting internet traffic to malicious servers by altering DNS records.

A user’s browser might be tricked into connecting to a fake website instead of the intended one.

11.  Session Hijacking:

Stealing a user’s session token to gain unauthorized access to their account.

An attacker could intercept a user’s session cookie and use it to log in to their account.

12.  Brute Force Attacks:

Trying to guess passwords or other credentials by systematically trying different combinations. An attacker might use automated tools to try various password combinations.

13.  Web Attacks:

Targeting vulnerabilities in web applications to compromise systems or steal data. This includes attacks like SQL injection, XSS, and CSRF.

14.  Insider Threats:

Malicious actions by individuals within an organization.

A disgruntled employee might steal sensitive data or sabotage systems.

15.  Trojan Horse:

Malicious software disguised as legitimate programs.

A user might download a seemingly harmless program that actually contains malware.

16.  Drive-by Attacks:

Automatically downloading malware onto a victim’s device.

Visiting a malicious website can trigger the download of malware without the user’s knowledge.

17.  XSS Attacks:

Injecting malicious scripts into web pages to steal user data or hijack sessions. An attacker could inject malicious code into a comment section or forum post.

18.  Eavesdropping Attacks:

Listening to network traffic to intercept sensitive information.

An attacker might use Wi-Fi sniffing tools to capture unencrypted network traffic.

19.  Birthday Attack:

Exploiting the probability of collisions in hash functions to crack cryptographic systems. This technique can be used to break certain cryptographic algorithms.

20.  Malware Attack:

Any malicious software designed to harm computer systems or networks.

This includes viruses, worms, ransomware, and other types of malware.