Top 100 Cyber Threats You Need To Know

The landscape of cyber threats is vast and constantly evolving, posing significant challenges to individuals, organizations, and governments worldwide. Here, we explore into the top 100 cyber threats, explaining each one with examples to provide a comprehensive understanding of the various dangers lurking in the digital realm.

Credential Phishing
DNS Tunneling
Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
Data ManipulationAttacks
IoT Firmware Vulnerabilities
Side Channel Attacks
SIM Swapping
Ransomware
Phishing Attacks
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks
Insider Threats
Zero-Day Exploits
Data Breaches
Malware
Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)
Supply Chain Attacks
Cryptojacking
Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks
Social Engineering Attacks
Fileless Malware
IoT Botnets
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Attacks
Identity Theft
Data Leakage
Business Email Compromise (BEC)
Mobile Malware
AI-Powered Cyber Attacks
DNS Hijacking
Physical Attacks on Infrastructure
Cyber Espionage
AI-Powered Deepfakes
File Encryption Trojans
Credential Stuffing Attacks
Bluetooth Impersonation Attacks
USB-Based Attacks
Formjacking Attacks
Watering Hole Attacks
Supply Chain Compromise
Voice Phishing (Vishing)
Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) Evasion
Browser-based Cryptojacking
Multithreading (SMT) Side-Channel Attacks
Firmware Vulnerabilities
Mobile App Spoofing
Cloud Service Misconfiguration
Data Exfiltration through Stenography
Adversarial Machine Learning Attacks
App StoreFraud
Insufficient SecurityPatching
Automated Brute Force Attacks
Blockchain Vulnerabilities
Whaling Attacks
Logic Bombs
File Encryption Ransomware
Biometric Spoofing
Eavesdropping (Passive Surveillance)
Voice Assistant Exploitation
Malvertising (Malicious Advertising)
5G Network Vulnerabilities
Credential Theft via Keylogging
Backdoor Attacks
Smart Contract Vulnerabilities
Typosquatting Attacks
Zero-Click Exploits
Rogue Software
USB Rubber Ducky Attacks
Remote Code Execution (RCE) Vulnerabilities
Router Exploitation
Bluetooth Attacks
Data Interception (Data-in-Transit Attacks)
Virtual Private Network (VPN) Exploitation
Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS)
Browser Extension Vulnerabilities
Cache Poisoning
Caller ID Spoofing
Camfecting
Car Hacking
Certificate Transparency Abuse
Clipboard Hijacking
Click Injection Fraud
Command Injection
Container Escapes
Content Security Policy (CSP) Bypass
Data Destruction Attacks
Dark Web Marketplaces
Digital Certificate Spoofing
DNSSEC Misconfigurations
Domain Generation Algorithm (DGA) Attacks
Email Spoofing
Emulation Detection Evasion
Exploitation of Zero-Day Vulnerabilities
GPS Spoofing
HTTP Parameter Pollution (HPP)
Insecure Deserialization
Internet Routing Attacks
IoT Ransomware
IoT Replay Attacks
Key Recovery Attacks
Live Migration Attacks
Memory Scraping Malware

1. Credential Phishing
Credential phishing is a technique where attackers trick individuals into revealing their login information through fake websites or emails. For example, a user might receive an email that appears to be from their bank, prompting them to enter their username and password on a fraudulent site.

2. DNS Tunneling
DNS tunneling involves using the Domain Name System (DNS) protocol to transmit data over the internet. Attackers use this method to bypass network security measures and exfiltrate data. For instance, malware on a compromised system might use DNS queries to communicate with a command-and-control server.

3. Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
CSRF attacks trick a victim into performing actions on a web application without their knowledge. For example, a user logged into their bank’s website might click on a malicious link, unknowingly transferring money to the attacker’s account.

4. Data Manipulation Attacks
In data manipulation attacks, cybercriminals alter data to deceive or cause harm. For example, hackers might change the grades in a school’s database or modify financial records to embezzle funds.

5. IoT Firmware Vulnerabilities
Internet of Things (IoT) devices often have firmware vulnerabilities that attackers exploit. For instance, an insecure smart thermostat could be hacked to gain access to a home network.

6. Side Channel Attacks
Side channel attacks exploit indirect information, such as power consumption or electromagnetic emissions, to gain access to sensitive data. An example is an attacker measuring a device’s power usage to extract cryptographic keys.

7. SIM Swapping
SIM swapping involves transferring a victim’s phone number to a new SIM card controlled by the attacker. This allows the attacker to intercept calls and messages, often to bypass two-factor authentication (2FA). High-profile individuals have been targeted in such attacks to gain access to their accounts.

8. Ransomware
Ransomware encrypts a victim’s files and demands a ransom for the decryption key. A notable example is the WannaCry attack, which affected thousands of computers worldwide, demanding payments in Bitcoin.

9. Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks use fraudulent emails or websites to steal sensitive information. For example, an email might claim to be from a trusted retailer, prompting the user to enter their credit card details.

10. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks
DDoS attacks overwhelm a network or website with traffic, causing it to become unavailable. The Mirai botnet is a famous example, using IoT devices to flood websites with traffic.

11. Insider Threats
Insider threats come from within an organization, often involving employees who misuse their access to sensitive information. An example is an employee stealing customer data to sell on the dark web.

12. Zero-Day Exploits
Zero-day exploits target unknown vulnerabilities in software, giving attackers a head start before the vendor can patch the flaw. Stuxnet, which targeted Iranian nuclear facilities, is a notable example.

13. Data Breaches
Data breaches involve unauthorized access to sensitive data. The Equifax breach, where personal information of millions of people was exposed, is a significant example.

14. Malware
Malware encompasses various types of malicious software, including viruses, worms, and Trojans. An example is the Zeus Trojan, which targets banking information.

15. Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs)
APTs are prolonged and targeted cyber attacks, often sponsored by nation-states. The APT1 group, linked to China, has been involved in numerous cyber espionage activities.

16. Supply Chain Attacks
Supply chain attacks target less secure elements of a supply chain to compromise a target. The SolarWinds hack, where attackers inserted malicious code into a widely-used IT management software, is a prime example.

17. Cryptojacking
Cryptojacking involves unauthorized use of someone’s computer to mine cryptocurrency. Users might notice their systems running slowly due to excessive CPU usage.

18. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks
MitM attacks intercept communication between two parties to steal data or inject malicious content. For example, an attacker might intercept a user’s connection to a banking website to steal login credentials.

19. Social Engineering Attacks
Social engineering attacks manipulate individuals into revealing confidential information. An example is pretexting, where an attacker impersonates a colleague to gain access to sensitive data.

20. Fileless Malware
Fileless malware resides in the memory rather than being stored on the disk, making it harder to detect. PowerShell scripts can be used to execute fileless attacks on Windows systems.

21. IoT Botnets
IoT botnets, such as Mirai, consist of compromised IoT devices used to conduct large-scale attacks like DDoS.

22. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Attacks
XSS attacks inject malicious scripts into websites, which then execute in users’ browsers. An attacker might use XSS to steal cookies and hijack user sessions.

23. Identity Theft
Identity theft involves stealing someone’s personal information to commit fraud. A common method is phishing, where attackers trick victims into providing their social security numbers or other personal data.

24. Data Leakage
Data leakage occurs when sensitive data is inadvertently exposed. Misconfigured cloud storage, such as an open Amazon S3 bucket, can lead to significant data leaks.

25. Business Email Compromise (BEC)
BEC attacks involve impersonating a business executive to trick employees into transferring money or sensitive information. A typical example is an email from a “CEO” requesting an urgent wire transfer.

26. Mobile Malware
Mobile malware targets smartphones and tablets, often through malicious apps. Joker malware, found in various Android apps, subscribes users to premium services without their knowledge.

27. AI-Powered Cyber Attacks
AI-powered cyber attacks use artificial intelligence to enhance their effectiveness. For instance, AI can be used to generate highly convincing phishing emails tailored to individual targets.

28. DNS Hijacking
DNS hijacking redirects traffic from legitimate websites to malicious ones. Attackers might compromise a router to change its DNS settings, redirecting users to phishing sites.

29. Physical Attacks on Infrastructure
Physical attacks on infrastructure involve tampering with physical components, such as servers or network cables. An attacker might cut a fiber optic cable to disrupt communication.

30. Cyber Espionage
Cyber espionage involves stealing confidential information for political or economic gain. The APT29 group, linked to Russian intelligence, has been involved in numerous espionage activities.

31. AI-Powered Deepfakes
Deepfakes use AI to create realistic fake videos or audio recordings. These can be used to spread misinformation or impersonate individuals in phishing schemes.

32. File Encryption Trojans
File encryption Trojans encrypt files on a victim’s computer, demanding a ransom for the decryption key. CryptoLocker is a well-known example.

33. Credential Stuffing Attacks
Credential stuffing involves using stolen usernames and passwords from one service to gain access to another. Attackers often exploit reused passwords to breach multiple accounts.

34. Bluetooth Impersonation Attacks
Bluetooth impersonation attacks, such as BlueBorne, exploit vulnerabilities in Bluetooth to take control of devices or steal data.

35. USB-Based Attacks
USB-based attacks involve malicious USB devices that can deliver malware or steal data when plugged into a computer. USB Rubber Ducky is a tool used to execute such attacks.

36. Formjacking Attacks
Formjacking involves injecting malicious code into online forms to steal user information. Magecart attacks, which target e-commerce sites, are a common example.

37. Watering Hole Attacks
Watering hole attacks compromise websites frequented by a specific group to deliver malware. For instance, attackers might target a popular industry blog to infect visitors from that industry.

38. Supply Chain Compromise
Supply chain compromise attacks target less secure elements of a supply chain to compromise a target. The NotPetya attack used software updates from a Ukrainian tax software company to spread globally.

39. Voice Phishing (Vishing)
Vishing involves using phone calls to trick victims into revealing sensitive information. An attacker might impersonate a bank representative to obtain credit card details.

40. Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) Evasion
DPI evasion techniques aim to bypass network monitoring tools that analyze data packets. Attackers might use encryption or obfuscation to hide their activities from DPI systems.

41. Browser-based Cryptojacking
Browser-based cryptojacking uses JavaScript on websites to mine cryptocurrency through visitors’ browsers. Coinhive was a popular service used for this purpose before it was shut down.

42. Multithreading (SMT) Side-Channel Attacks
Multithreading side-channel attacks exploit simultaneous multithreading (SMT) features in CPUs to leak sensitive information. Researchers have demonstrated such attacks on Intel’s Hyper-Threading technology.

43. Firmware Vulnerabilities
Firmware vulnerabilities in hardware devices can be exploited to gain control over them. For example, vulnerabilities in hard drive firmware could allow attackers to implant persistent malware.

44. Mobile App Spoofing
Mobile app spoofing involves creating fake versions of legitimate apps to steal information or deliver malware. Attackers might publish a fake banking app on a third-party app store to trick users.

45. Cloud Service Misconfiguration
Cloud service misconfigurations can expose sensitive data or allow unauthorized access. An example is misconfigured AWS S3 buckets that publicly expose private data.

46. Data Exfiltration through Steganography
Steganography involves hiding data within other files, such as images, to exfiltrate it without detection. Attackers might embed stolen data in image files and send them via email.

47. Adversarial Machine Learning Attacks
Adversarial machine learning attacks involve manipulating input data to deceive machine learning models. For instance, attackers might alter images to fool facial recognition systems.

48. App Store Fraud
App store fraud includes publishing fake or malicious apps on official app stores. These apps can steal data, display unwanted ads, or subscribe users to premium services.

49. Insufficient Security Patching
Insufficient security patching leaves systems vulnerable to known exploits. Attackers often target outdated software with publicly known vulnerabilities.

50. Automated Brute Force Attacks
Automated brute force attacks use software to rapidly guess passwords until the correct one is found. Attackers might target weak passwords on online accounts.

51. Blockchain Vulnerabilities
Blockchain vulnerabilities can be exploited to alter transactions or steal cryptocurrency. For example, the DAO attack exploited a vulnerability in a smart contract to steal millions of dollars in Ethereum.

52. Whaling Attacks
Whaling attacks target high-profile individuals within an organization, such as executives, to steal sensitive information or money. These attacks often use personalized spear-phishing emails.

53. Logic Bombs
Logic bombs are malicious code that triggers under specific conditions. An example is a disgruntled employee planting a logic bomb in a company’s software to cause damage if they are terminated.

54. File Encryption Ransomware
File encryption ransomware encrypts files and demands a ransom for the decryption key. An example is the CryptoLocker ransomware, which demanded payments in Bitcoin.

55. Biometric Spoofing
Biometric spoofing involves replicating biometric data, such as fingerprints or facial features, to bypass authentication systems. Attackers might use high-resolution photos to fool facial recognition systems.

56. Eavesdropping (Passive Surveillance)
Eavesdropping involves intercepting communications to steal information. For example, an attacker might use a Wi-Fi sniffer to capture unencrypted data transmitted over a network.

57. Voice Assistant Exploitation
Voice assistant exploitation targets devices like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant to execute unauthorized commands. Attackers might use hidden voice commands embedded in audio files.

58. Malvertising (Malicious Advertising)
Malvertising involves injecting malicious ads into legitimate websites, which can deliver malware to visitors. For example, attackers might use compromised ad networks to spread ransomware.

59. 5G Network Vulnerabilities
5G network vulnerabilities can be exploited to intercept communications or disrupt services. Researchers have identified weaknesses in the 5G protocol that could allow man-in-the-middle attacks.

60. Credential Theft via Keylogging
Keyloggers capture keystrokes to steal credentials and other sensitive information. Attackers might use malware to install keyloggers on victims’ computers.

61. Backdoor Attacks
Backdoor attacks involve installing hidden access points in systems to bypass security measures. Attackers might use backdoors to gain persistent access to compromised networks.

62. Smart Contract Vulnerabilities
Smart contract vulnerabilities can be exploited to manipulate blockchain transactions. The DAO hack, which exploited a reentrancy bug in an Ethereum smart contract, is a notable example.

63. Typosquatting Attacks
Typosquatting involves registering domain names similar to legitimate ones to deceive users. For example, attackers might create a site like “goggle.com” to trick users into entering their credentials.

64. Zero-Click Exploits
Zero-click exploits require no user interaction to compromise a device. Attackers might exploit vulnerabilities in messaging apps to execute code simply by sending a message.

65. Rogue Software
Rogue software pretends to be legitimate but performs malicious activities. Fake antivirus software, which claims to find malware but actually installs it, is a common example.

66. USB Rubber Ducky Attacks
USB Rubber Ducky is a tool that looks like a USB flash drive but acts as a keyboard to deliver pre-programmed keystrokes and commands, compromising the target system.

67. Remote Code Execution (RCE) Vulnerabilities
RCE vulnerabilities allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on a target system. For instance, a vulnerability in a web application might enable attackers to run malicious scripts.

68. Router Exploitation
Router exploitation targets vulnerabilities in routers to gain network access. Attackers might use default credentials or exploit firmware flaws to take control of routers.

69. Bluetooth Attacks
Bluetooth attacks exploit vulnerabilities in Bluetooth-enabled devices to steal data or control the device. BlueBorne is an example of such an attack.

70. Data Interception (Data-in-Transit Attacks)
Data interception attacks capture data as it is transmitted over a network. Attackers might use packet sniffers to intercept unencrypted communication between devices.

71. Virtual Private Network (VPN) Exploitation
VPN exploitation targets vulnerabilities in VPN software to intercept or redirect traffic. Attackers might exploit weak encryption or misconfigurations to access sensitive data.

72. Malware-as-a-Service (MaaS)
MaaS refers to the commercialization of malware, where attackers sell or rent malware tools and services. This makes it easier for less skilled cybercriminals to launch attacks.

73. Browser Extension Vulnerabilities
Browser extension vulnerabilities can be exploited to hijack sessions, steal data, or inject malicious content. Malicious or compromised extensions are often used in such attacks.

74. Cache Poisoning
Cache poisoning involves inserting malicious data into a cache to deceive users or systems. DNS cache poisoning, for example, redirects users to malicious websites.

75. Caller ID Spoofing
Caller ID spoofing manipulates the caller ID to display a false number, often used in phishing or vishing attacks. Attackers might impersonate trusted entities to steal information.

76. Camfecting
Camfecting involves hacking into a webcam to spy on the victim. Attackers might use remote access tools to activate webcams without the user’s knowledge.

77. Car Hacking
Car hacking targets vulnerabilities in vehicles’ electronic systems to control them remotely. Researchers have demonstrated remote control of car functions, including braking and acceleration.

78. Certificate Transparency Abuse
Certificate transparency abuse involves exploiting the transparency logs of SSL/TLS certificates to identify and target specific organizations. Attackers might use this information for spear-phishing attacks.

79. Clipboard Hijacking
Clipboard hijacking monitors and alters clipboard contents to steal information. For instance, malware might replace copied cryptocurrency addresses with the attacker’s address.

80. Click Injection Fraud
Click injection fraud involves simulating clicks on ads to generate fraudulent revenue. Attackers might use malware to create fake ad interactions on infected devices.

81. Command Injection
Command injection attacks execute arbitrary commands on a host operating system via a vulnerable application. Attackers might exploit web forms to inject commands and compromise servers.

82. Container Escapes
Container escapes exploit vulnerabilities in containerization technologies to break out of containers and access the host system. Attackers might use these vulnerabilities to compromise cloud environments.

83. Content Security Policy (CSP) Bypass
CSP bypass attacks circumvent web security policies intended to prevent cross-site scripting and other attacks. Attackers might find weaknesses in a site’s CSP implementation to inject malicious scripts.

84. Data Destruction Attacks
Data destruction attacks aim to delete or corrupt data, causing operational disruptions. Ransomware that deletes data if the ransom is not paid is an example of such an attack.

85. Dark Web Marketplaces
Dark web marketplaces facilitate the trade of illegal goods and services, including malware, stolen data, and hacking tools. These marketplaces provide a platform for cybercriminals to buy and sell illicit products.

86. Digital Certificate Spoofing
Digital certificate spoofing involves creating fake SSL/TLS certificates to impersonate legitimate websites. Attackers might use these certificates to conduct man-in-the-middle attacks.

87. DNSSEC Misconfigurations
DNSSEC misconfigurations can be exploited to bypass DNS security measures, allowing attackers to redirect traffic or intercept communications. Proper configuration is essential to prevent such attacks.

88. Domain Generation Algorithm (DGA) Attacks
DGA attacks use algorithms to generate a large number of domain names, which are used for command-and-control servers. This makes it difficult to block malicious domains.

89. Email Spoofing
Email spoofing involves forging the sender’s address in an email to deceive the recipient. Attackers might impersonate trusted entities to deliver phishing emails or malware.

90. Emulation Detection Evasion
Emulation detection evasion techniques help malware avoid detection by security software that uses emulation to analyze code behavior. Malware might detect the presence of a virtual environment and alter its behavior to avoid analysis.

91. Exploitation of Zero-Day Vulnerabilities
Zero-day vulnerabilities are unknown to the vendor and have no available patches. Exploiting these vulnerabilities gives attackers a significant advantage, as the targets are unprepared.

92. GPS Spoofing
GPS spoofing involves sending fake GPS signals to deceive receivers about their location. This can be used to mislead navigation systems or disrupt location-based services.

93. HTTP Parameter Pollution (HPP)
HPP attacks manipulate or inject parameters into HTTP requests to disrupt web applications or exploit vulnerabilities. Attackers might use HPP to bypass security controls or execute unauthorized actions.

94. Insecure Deserialization
Insecure deserialization occurs when untrusted data is used to instantiate objects, leading to remote code execution or other attacks. Exploiting this vulnerability can give attackers control over the application.

95. Internet Routing Attacks
Internet routing attacks manipulate routing protocols to intercept or redirect internet traffic. BGP hijacking is an example, where attackers reroute traffic to malicious destinations.

96. IoT Ransomware
IoT ransomware targets IoT devices, encrypting their data and demanding a ransom for decryption. An example is ransomware that locks smart home devices, rendering them unusable.

97. IoT Replay Attacks
IoT replay attacks capture and retransmit data to deceive IoT devices. For instance, attackers might capture authentication data and reuse it to gain unauthorized access to a smart lock.

98. Key Recovery Attacks
Key recovery attacks aim to retrieve encryption keys from a system. Side-channel attacks, such as analyzing power consumption, can be used to extract cryptographic keys.

99. Live Migration Attacks
Live migration attacks target the process of moving virtual machines between hosts. Attackers might exploit vulnerabilities during migration to gain access to the VM or disrupt services.

100. Memory Scraping Malware
Memory scraping malware extracts sensitive data from a system’s memory. Point-of-sale (POS) systems are often targeted to steal credit card information during transactions.

Understanding these threats and implementing robust security measures is crucial in protecting against the ever-evolving landscape of cyber attacks.

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