Our systems and information, They can be really valuable for our day to dayso protect them It is an act of responsibility and self-sense. Otherwise, everything we have can be seriously compromised.
One of the most effective attacks in infecting computers, and stealing information, are the main attack vectorsbeing these responsible for executing a series of activities, until leaving our computer in a vulnerable state.
The power is in knowingand that is why today, we will teach you everything you need to know, from attack vectorsand finally we show you some tips you should apply to avoid them.
What is an attack vector and what is it for in computing?
Attack Vectors are simply those infections that our systems receivein order to take advantage of all the vulnerabilities found and make way for hackers. Most of the attack vectors infiltrate computers whose security system is outdated. These are not always detected by the antimalware in its entries, but if it is detected by the changes you can make.
Its main function is to make way for stronger infectionsand give full access to the system to hackers, taking advantage of vulnerabilities, since They belong to the critical points of the system. These can be controlled, and avoided with the simple update of all systemsbecause errors and vulnerabilities are fixed, or dissipated, with a simple software change, or strengthened with the help of an update.
Attack vectors specialize, in infiltrating computers like common software, by means of a file download. From the moment that it has free access in the system, it quickly finds all the faults and settles on the most critical one. When it is implanted, it opens access through holes to malicious codes, worms and others… It also uses as a method, the insertion of advertising, and the use of social engineering, for better information theft.
Types of attack vectors What are they and how are they classified?
Attack Vectors they can be virusesor any other infection, but its goal is seize information assetsand open the way to more infections.
There are many types of vectors and they are classified according to the type of equipment they infect, as shown below:
Host Attacks
Are all those attacks who are dedicated to infect computers or hosts in general, his list is long.
Next, we will only show the most common and important ones:
- malware: They are all those virus attacks, worms or Trojans, which are introduced into computers, resulting in damage, failures and theft of information.
- Keyloggers: It is that infectious software designed to steal pressed information. In other words, it records all the user’s typing by means of keystrokes.
- Social engineering: name given to the ability to steal information, taking advantage of the user’s weaknesses, persuading him through direct messages, and they are classified as follows:
- Phishing: the attacker obtains confidential information, through identity theft, or supposed representations, of organizations or pages on the Internet.
- Spam: name given to all messages of the advertising type, unwanted, that are received constantly and repetitively.
Network Attack
Because the most information constantly travels through the networks, this is the main attack point, for all hackers. After the attack was effective, all our information is subject to cloning and high risks.
This type of attack vector is classified into two, active and passive:
- the active attack: is the infection by malicious code, sabotaging the proper functioning of networks and connected devices.
- passive attack: thus recognized, to any interception of data or cloning, during the exchange of information, this is possible through the implantation of a virus in the network.
active attacks
In these attacks, which we have already mentioned their intention and way of working, you can find the following ways of infection.
They are grouped in this classification:
- Spoofing: refers to techniques used with the intent to impersonate identities.
- Modification: it is the routing change of the central device, programming it for an information diversion.
- DDoS: The denial of service attack has the objective of collapsing a network, resulting in a high consumption of bandwidth, causing a delay in the information feedback.
- Manufacturing: it is the false routing message, diverting the information, to delay its arrival, or simply extract it without reaching its destination.
Passive Attacks
The attacks passive, they are not detected in most casesbecause the infection works meticulously at one point in the network.
His main attacks are the following:
- Sniffing: It is known in this way, the technique used by the attacker to identify the communication route used for the exchange of information. The goal is to move the data or clone it for extraction, without modifying it.
- eavesdropping: are the attacks that mobile networks receive, with the mission of obtaining all the information transmitted through the equipment.
- Supervision: It is the direct attack on sensitive data, with the intention of cloning, without altering the content.
Phases of a cyberattack How do hackers attack the vulnerabilities of a system?
A cyber attackis composed of a series of phases that allows it to gradually take over the system and the stored information assets.
Although the process can be somewhat lengthy, it consists of the following stages:
Exploration
Information vectors make use of programmed algorithmic intelligence to scan the system to attack. The objective of this first phase is to carry out a recognition of all the failures and vulnerabilities found.
Facility
Following the inspection, proceeds to install the infectioncontaminating all sensitive files and data, primarily, as well as opening access to other attacks, or attackers.
Activation of the threat
Finally, the threat is activatedalong with other attacks, executing all activities, as quickly as possible, among them, avoiding being controlled by cyber security that Have our equipment installed.
Tips to defend your devices from vector cyberattacks
Now that you know the dangers we face after being infected by an attack vector, we must apply some security strategies, and thus avoid being victims of hackers:
Use of antivirus
A good antivirus is always the best optionagainst computer attacks. In the case of Windows 10, provides us by default a powerful protector, against all the threats that want to run on our computer.
Scan files before opening
Many times antiviruses leave skip some analysisor are not programmed for automatic analysis of new files, for this reason, every time we download or copy a new file to our computermust be analyzed.
Driver and OS updated
Vulnerabilities appear, when a system is out of date, and the only way to avoid them is keeping a team completely up to date, with their latest versions. We must remember that attack vectors, it is implanted in the faults found.
Do not provide confidential information
To avoid being a victim of social engineering, we must never provide confidential information to people we do not know, even if we think we know them, we must verify that it is not impersonation.
Avoid sharing network accesses
Our wireless connection always is the most vulnerableTherefore, promoting a secure key guarantees greater protection, but if we share access with many people, we could face each other, as mentioned above.
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