Types of Computer Attacks

Active Types of Computer Attacks

• Virus

Most famous computer attacks are viruses, which have been around for the longest time. They install themselves onto the computers and spread to the other files on the system. They often spread through external hard drives, or through certain internet sites or through email attachments. Once the viruses are launched, they become independent of the creator and aim to infect a number of files and other systems.

• Trojan

In the list of computer attacks, Trojan horses rank right after the viruses. They often disguise themselves in a piece of software, in screen saver, or in a game, which appears to work normally. However, once they are copied onto the system, they will infect the system with a virus or root kit. In other words, they act as carriers of viruses or root kits, to infect the system.

• Worm

Worms can be called the cousins of viruses. The difference between viruses and worms is that worms infect the system without any kind of assistance from the user. The first step that worms take is to scan the computers and exploit vulnerabilities. Then it copies itself onto the system infecting the system, and the process is repeated.

• Root Kit

Hackers gain access into the system with the use of root kit drivers and take full charge of the computer. These are among the most dangerous computer attacks, as the hacker can gain more control over the system, than the owner of the system. In some cases, hackers have been able to also turn on the victim's webcam and watch the activities of the victim, without the victim knowing about it at all.

Passive Types of Computer Attacks

• Eavesdropping

As the name suggests, hackers will sneakily listen to the conversation happening between two computers on the network. This can happen in a closed system as well as over the internet as well. The other names with which this is referred to is sniffing or snooping. With eavesdropping, sensitive data can make its way over the network and can be accessible to others.

• Password Based Attacks

One of the most common types of cyber attacks are password based attacks. Here the hackers gains access to the computer and the network resources by gaining password control. It is often seen that the attacker changes server and network configuration and in some cases may even delete data. Data can also be passed onto different networks.

• Denial of Service Attack

As the name suggests, hackers will sneakily listen to the conversation happening between two computers on the network. This can happen in a closed system as well as over the internet as well. The other names with which this is referred to is sniffing or snooping. With eavesdropping, sensitive data can make its way over the network and can be accessible to others.

• Compromised Key Attack

To store sensitive data, a secret code or number may be used. Obtaining the key is no doubt a real huge task for the hacker, it is possible that after intense research the hacker is indeed able to lay his hands on the key. Once the key is in possession of the hacker, it is known as compromised key. The hacker will now have access to the sensitive data and can make changes to the data. However, there are also chances that the hacker will try different permutations and combinations of the key to gain access to other sets of sensitive data as well.

• Identity Spoofing

Every computer has an IP address, due to which it is considered as a valid and independent entity on the network. One of the common computer attacks is to assume the identity of another computer. Here IP packets may be sent from valid addresses and gain access to a particular IP. Once access is gained, the data on the system may be deleted, modified or rerouted. Alternately, the hacker can make use of this hacked IP and cause attacks on the other systems within or outside the network.

• Application Layer Attack

The aim of the application layer attack is to cause fault in the server's operating system. Once a fault is created in the operating system, the hacker is able to gain access to the server controls. This in turn leads to the hacker modifying the data in various ways. A virus may be introduced into the system or may send numerous requests to the server, which can result in its crash or security controls may be disabled, due to which restoring the server back can become difficult.