What is a cyber attack?

A cyber attack is a malicious act in which a person or group attempts to gain unauthorised access to, damage or disrupt digital systems, networks or data. Cyber attacks can have many purposes, including financial gain, industrial espionage, politically motivated actions or pure destruction. They affect individuals, businesses and governments alike, and the consequences can range from minor inconveniences to serious financial losses and data breaches. 

Cyberattacks can be carried out through various methods, with attackers exploiting vulnerabilities in systems, human error or lack of security measures. Technological advances and digitalisation have increased the complexity of the threat landscape, making it necessary for organisations to be constantly aware of cybersecurity.

Different types of cyberattacks

Cyber attacks come in many forms, with some of the most common being:

• Phishing attacks: the attacker attempts to trick users into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card details, by sending fake emails or messages pretending to be from a trustworthy source.
• Malware: Malicious software, such as viruses, trojans and spyware, installed on a system to steal data, disrupt functionality or give the hacker remote access.
• Ransomware: A type of malware that encrypts the victim's data and demands a ransom to unlock it. Ransomware attacks have affected businesses, hospitals and government organisations with major financial and operational consequences.
• Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks: The attacker overloads a server or network with massive traffic to make services unavailable to legitimate users.
• Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attack: The hacker intercepts communication between two parties to steal or alter data without their knowledge. This often happens on unsecured networks.
• Zero-day attacks: Exploits vulnerabilities in software that have not yet been discovered or fixed by the developer, allowing hackers to compromise systems without countermeasures.

Consequences of a cyber attack

A successful cyber attack can have serious consequences depending on the nature of the attack and the target of the attack. Financial loss is one of the most immediate consequences as businesses can lose large sums of money due to fraud, business interruption or ransom demands in ransomware attacks. Data loss is another major risk, where sensitive information can be deleted, altered or sold on the black market.

Reputational damage is also a significant factor. When a company experiences a data breach, it can lead to a loss of customer trust and damage brand credibility. For governments and public institutions, cyberattacks can threaten national security if critical infrastructure is compromised. On an individual level, a cyberattack can lead to identity theft, financial fraud and invasion of privacy.

How to protect yourself against cyberattacks

To minimise the risk of cyberattacks, it's important to implement strong security measures and take a proactive approach to cybersecurity. Some of the best ways to protect yourself include:

• Using strong passwords and multi-factor authentication: Long, unique passwords combined with extra security layers like one-time passwords make it more difficult for hackers to gain access to accounts.
• Updating software and systems: Many cyberattacks exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software, so regular updates are essential to close security gaps.
• Backing up data: Regular backups ensure that important information can be restored after a ransomware attack or system failure.
• Be wary of emails and links: Phishing attacks are one of the most common threats, so it's important to be sceptical of unexpected emails and not click on unknown links.
• Use antivirus and firewalls: Modern security software can detect and block many types of malware and unauthorised access attempts.
• Monitoring network traffic: IT security teams should actively monitor network traffic to detect suspicious activity and potential attacks in real time.

Responding to a cyber attack

If an organisation or individual is the victim of a cyber attack, rapid response is crucial to limit the damage. The key steps in dealing with an attack include:

• Identification and isolation: The first step is to identify the attack and isolate the affected system to prevent further spread. This may involve disconnecting devices from the network or temporarily shutting down compromised systems.
• Investigate the attack: A thorough analysis of the scope and methodology of the attack is necessary to understand what data and systems have been compromised. This involves reviewing logs, identifying vulnerabilities and assessing potential damage.
• Reporting and communication: Organisations should report the incident to relevant authorities, such as the Data Protection Authority or the police cyber unit, if sensitive personal information has been leaked. It is also important to inform affected parties so they can take precautions.
• Restoring systems: Once the threat has been neutralised, systems should be restored using backups and security updates. This ensures that data and functionality can be restored without the risk of further compromise.
• Improving security measures: After an attack, it's important to evaluate and strengthen security measures to prevent future incidents. This can include updating software, improving access controls and increasing employee cybersecurity training.

An effective response to a cyberattack can minimise damage and ensure the organisation can better withstand similar attacks in the future.

FAQ - Frequently asked questions