Understanding the 11 Most Common Types of Cyber Attacks

In today’s hyper-connected world, cybersecurity is no longer a luxury — it’s a necessity. Organizations and individuals alike are under constant threat from cyber attackers exploiting vulnerabilities for financial gain, espionage, disruption, or simply notoriety.

Let’s break down 11 common types of cyber attacks everyone should be aware of, inspired by the visual guide from Cyber Threat Intelligence:

1. Viruses
These are malicious programs that attach themselves to clean files and spread throughout a system, often corrupting data and functionality. Once executed, they can replicate and infect other files or systems.

2. Malware Attack
Malware (malicious software) includes viruses, trojans, worms, ransomware, and more. It’s typically introduced through infected downloads, email attachments, or software vulnerabilities. Malware can steal, encrypt, or delete data — or hijack system functions.

3. Phishing Attack
Phishing uses fake emails or websites to trick users into revealing sensitive information like usernames, passwords, or credit card numbers. It’s one of the most common social engineering tactics used by cybercriminals.

4. Password Attacks
Hackers use techniques like dictionary attacks, brute force, or credential stuffing to crack user passwords and gain unauthorized access to systems or data.

5. Vishing Attacks
Short for “voice phishing,” vishing uses phone calls or voice messages to manipulate individuals into sharing private information, often impersonating trusted institutions or authorities.

6. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks
MitM attacks occur when a malicious actor secretly intercepts and possibly alters communication between two parties. This can happen over unsecured public Wi-Fi or poorly configured networks.

7. DoS / DDoS Attacks
Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks flood a network or service with traffic, rendering it slow or completely offline. DDoS attacks often involve networks of infected computers (botnets).

8. Brute Force Attack
A brute force attack involves trying all possible password combinations until the correct one is found. It’s time-consuming but can be successful against weak or common passwords.

9. Spyware & Keyloggers
Spyware covertly gathers user data, often tracking browsing habits or capturing login credentials. Keyloggers specifically record keystrokes to intercept sensitive information like passwords or credit card numbers.

10. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
XSS allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into trusted websites. When other users visit the site, the script executes, potentially stealing cookies, session tokens, or redirecting users to malicious sites.

11. SQL Injection
SQL injection attacks exploit vulnerabilities in input fields of web applications to manipulate or access the underlying database. This can lead to unauthorized access, data leaks, or even full database deletion.

🔐 How to Protect Yourself
While the cyber threat landscape evolves daily, here are basic steps to mitigate these attacks:

Use strong, unique passwords (consider a password manager)
Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Keep software and systems updated
Educate users about phishing and vishing
Use reputable antivirus and endpoint protection tools
Regularly back up data and test recovery procedures
📸 Image credit: Cyber Threat Intelligence on LinkedIn

Stay informed. Stay secure. 🛡️
About the Author
Dr. Robert A. Morgan, MSc is a Senior Cyber Security Software Engineer, and cybersecurity strategist.
-Empowering cybersecurity through smart solutions and community-driven leadership.-