Common Cybercriminal Tactics
Cybercriminals employ a variety of tactics to exploit vulnerabilities and achieve their objectives, primarily financial gain. Here are some of the most common tactics used:
1. Phishing Attacks
Phishing is one of the most prevalent tactics used by cybercriminals. It involves sending fraudulent emails that appear to be from legitimate sources, tricking recipients into providing sensitive information.
- Example: A user receives an email that looks like it’s from their bank, asking them to verify their account information due to suspicious activity. The email contains a link to a fake website that closely resembles the bank's official site. Once the user enters their credentials, the attackers capture this information for malicious purposes.
2. Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a victim's files, making them inaccessible until a ransom is paid to the attacker.
- Example: The WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017 affected hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide, exploiting a vulnerability in Windows. Victims received messages demanding payment in Bitcoin to unlock their files, leading to significant financial losses and operational disruptions for many organizations, including the UK's National Health Service (NHS).
3. Business Email Compromise (BEC)
BEC attacks involve impersonating a trusted individual within an organization to deceive employees into transferring money or sensitive data.
- Example: An employee receives an email that appears to be from their CEO requesting an urgent wire transfer to a vendor for a critical project. The email looks legitimate, including the CEO’s signature and tone. The employee follows through with the transfer, only to later discover it was a fraudulent request.
4. SQL Injection
SQL injection is a technique where attackers exploit vulnerabilities in web applications by injecting malicious SQL code into input fields.
- Example: A hacker targets an online retail website by entering SQL commands into the search bar. If the application does not properly validate input, the attacker can manipulate the database to extract sensitive customer information, such as credit card numbers and personal addresses.
5. Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attacks
DoS attacks overwhelm a network or service with excessive traffic, rendering it unavailable to legitimate users.
- Example: In 2016, the Dyn DNS service suffered a massive DDoS attack using a botnet made up of IoT devices. This attack disrupted access to major websites like Twitter, Netflix, and Reddit for millions of users across the United States.
6. Social Engineering
Social engineering involves manipulating individuals into divulging confidential information or performing actions that compromise security.
- Example: An attacker calls an employee pretending to be from IT support and claims they need access to their computer for maintenance. By building trust and using technical jargon, they convince the employee to provide their login credentials over the phone.
7. Exploitation of Software Vulnerabilities
Cybercriminals often target known vulnerabilities in software applications and operating systems to gain unauthorized access.
- Example: The Equifax data breach in 2017 was attributed to an unpatched vulnerability in Apache Struts software. Attackers exploited this flaw to access sensitive personal information of approximately 147 million individuals, including Social Security numbers and credit card details.
8. Malware Deployment
Malware encompasses various malicious software types designed to infiltrate systems and disrupt operations or steal data.
- Example: Emotet is a sophisticated malware strain that initially spread through malicious email attachments but evolved into a delivery mechanism for other types of malware, including ransomware and banking trojans. Once installed on a system, Emotet can harvest sensitive information and facilitate further attacks.
9. Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) Exploits
RDP allows users to connect remotely to other computers but can be exploited if not secured properly.
- Example: Cybercriminals may use brute force attacks against RDP services with weak passwords or unpatched vulnerabilities. In some cases, attackers have gained access to corporate networks through RDP exploits, leading to data breaches or ransomware deployment.
10. Use of Removable Media
Cybercriminals may infect USB drives or other removable media with malware and distribute them strategically within organizations.
- Example: An attacker leaves infected USB drives in public places near corporate offices. When employees find these drives and plug them into their work computers out of curiosity, they inadvertently install malware that compromises the organization’s network security.
These examples illustrate how cybercriminals utilize various tactics to exploit vulnerabilities in systems and human behavior. Understanding these tactics is crucial for developing effective cybersecurity strategies and mitigating risks associated with cyber threats.