10 Most Serious Types of Computer Attacks

In recent years, the use of the Internet has grown, bringing with it a significant increase in cybercriminals and cyberattacksThese are carried out at all possible levels, as there are already large illegal organizations dedicated to committing all kinds of damage to devices.

There are lots of types of computer attacks, but they are almost always aligned to affect small and medium-sized businesses, as well as the most vulnerable users through the use of malware.

▷You may also be interested in: 8 Types of Computer Viruses Current in 2021 ▷

What are cyber attacks?

It is called computer attack Any aggression, attack, assault and robbery carried out using virtual and digital environments, such as computers, smart devices, servers, file banks, among others.

Cyber ​​attacks have the mission of primarily affect the victim's computer, but also the owners behind it. In fact, various cyberattacks can be used to steal privileged information, banking data, personal files and even completely destroy data or technological functioning.

The 10 most common types of cyber attacks

Cyberattacks can be classified in multiple ways, although they are generally explained according to the means or type of attack used to commit virtual criminal acts, so we can determine ten types of computer attacks.

1 Virus

The virus are malicious codes that are added to computer systems through multiple means. Software and applications are almost always used to install them, although they are generally require users to run them so that they can begin to be distributed.

These can affect the use of computers, steal information, delete and rewrite files to make them inaccessible, encrypt certain elements so that they cannot be removed from the system, among hundreds of others. forms of attack.

2.Malware

El Malware means malicious software, which has been developed with the aim of damaging the devices on which it is installed. It can be integrated into other applications or files, but they must be installed before the attacks can begin.

There are lots of types of malware (the virus is one of them), and these can be totally harmful to the affected computer. In fact, they are capable of deleting important system folders, up to completely destroying a hard drive or other hardware.

3. Worms

Un computer worm It is one of the most frequent forms of cyberattack. They are sent via email and leaked into memory cards. USB to duplicate its content, without the user having to execute it as happens with viruses or malware.

The main feature of the worm in a unit of storage is to delete files or hide them from plain sight, adding them to folders that are called 'holes'. They can also cause remote attacks in the intervened systems.

4. Trojans

Although they closely resemble viruses, Trojans They do not spread massively and have a different purpose. Their task is to open a kind of door, from where other types of malicious software can be installed or spyware remotely controlled.

It is called a Trojan because they come integrated into files or applications that seem harmless, but they bring with them malicious code to affect the computer and steal information. They cannot be easily detected without the use of an antivirus.

5. Spyware

As its name indicates, it is a type of computer attack which focuses on spying on users. It is installed through other applications and can steal information, turn on the device's camera to see people, as well as know the websites that they visit.

The spyware They are almost never detectable with the naked eye, because they are disguised as applications or extensions. In addition, they are threats that are controlled remotely, directly or indirectly, by those responsible for the attack.

6. AdWare

It may be one of the least aggressive attacks, but it cannot be underestimated. AdWare It is a type of spyware used to generate lots of advertisements and in invasive quantities, affecting the user experience.

Adware comes bundled into installed applications and extensions and can be reflected in advertisements of all kinds, including fake links, images, banners, videos and even pop-ups. Collects information and sends it to attackers.

▷Read: The 6 Most Common Types of Cybercrime on the Web ▷

7. RansomWare

This is one of the most serious cyber attacks because they are used for extortion purposes. Ramsomware It is sent via email or on websites, using hooks such as links or advertisements that the user clicks on.

The mistake is clicking on them, because once opened malware is installed that steals access information from accounts, social networks, banks, among others. The attackers extort users to return the data in exchange for cryptocurrencies, and the like.

8. Doxing

Many consider the doxing like a type of Ransomware, except that this attack pursues a specific goal: to publish the stolen information on various Internet platforms, if the victim does not agree to the attacker's extortion demands.

Doxing encrypt the information so that the owners cannot recover it. But the publication of the content is done openly, affecting companies or users in sectors such as reputation or sales.

9 Phishing

Cyberattacks like the Phishing They are different because they generally do not use malware or software to steal information, but rather the attackers do so directly by posing as entities, people, companies, etc.

Through fake calls, emails, text messages, WhatsApp and the like, the user receive persuasive messages so that it sends important information or access data, stealing it immediately.

A clear example of Phishing is WhatsApp. Thousands of users have lost their accounts because they receive a message from an unknown number, in which they are written on behalf of the company and asked for the code sent, taking control of it.

10. DDoS

Finally we have the attacks DDos (Distributed Denial of Service), a type of threat where an attacker sends multiple requests and queries to a platform, website, application or service to crash it and leave the gateway vulnerable.

Furthermore, DDoS attacks tend to be parasitic, because through Trojans and malware independently spread on the computers of other Internet users, They can also cause these to attack the servers without even realizing it.

Conclusions

The types of cyber attacks described above are among the most common, but above all, among the most serious that you will encounter. Some They may seem harmless to gain entry to the OS and wreak havoc without being detected.

Others such as viruses or worms have very common traces that allow them to be eliminated using antivirus programs, since they can almost never be undone without the intervention of this type of tool.