Cyberattacks have become increasingly sophisticated and varied, posing significant threats to individuals, organizations, and governments. Here are some of the most common types of cyberattacks:

1. Phishing

Phishing attacks involve sending fraudulent emails or messages that appear to come from legitimate sources. These messages aim to trick recipients into providing sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, or personal details. 

Impact: Phishing is one of the most prevalent and effective forms of cyberattack. According to the IBM report, phishing accounted for nearly 22% of all data breaches in India. 

Example: A common phishing tactic is to send an email that appears to be from a reputable bank, asking the recipient to update their account information by clicking on a malicious link.

2. Malware

Malware is malicious software designed to disrupt, damage, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems. Types of malware include viruses, worms, Trojan horses, ransomware, spyware, and adware. 

Impact: Malware can lead to data loss, financial theft, and system damage. Ransomware attacks, in particular, have seen a significant rise, where attackers encrypt data and demand payment for decryption keys. 

Example: WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017 affected hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide, demanding ransom payments in Bitcoin.

3. Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks

 DoS attacks overwhelm a system, network, or website with a flood of traffic, rendering it unusable. DDoS attacks involve multiple compromised systems attacking a single target. 

Impact: These attacks can cause significant downtime, financial losses, and damage to reputation. 

Example: In 2016, the DDoS attack on Dyn, a major DNS provider, disrupted major websites like Twitter, Netflix, and Reddit.

4. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks

MitM attacks occur when an attacker intercepts and alters communication between two parties without their knowledge. This can happen through unsecured Wi-Fi networks or compromised routers. 

Impact: MitM attacks can lead to the theft of sensitive information such as login credentials and financial data. 

Example: An attacker intercepting communications between a user and their bank’s website to capture login credentials and financial transactions.

5. SQL Injection

SQL injection attacks involve inserting malicious SQL code into a database query, allowing attackers to manipulate and access the database. 

Impact: This type of attack can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, deletion of data, and complete control over the affected database. 

Example: An attacker exploiting a vulnerable website search function to execute unauthorized SQL queries and access user data.

6. Zero-Day Exploits

 Zero-day exploits target previously unknown vulnerabilities in software or hardware. These vulnerabilities are exploited before the vendor has a chance to issue a patch. 

Impact: Zero-day exploits can cause widespread damage and are difficult to defend against due to the lack of available patches. 

Example: The Stuxnet worm, discovered in 2010, targeted zero-day vulnerabilities in Siemens software, causing significant damage to Iran’s nuclear program.

7. Credential Stuffing

Credential stuffing involves using lists of compromised usernames and passwords to gain unauthorized access to multiple accounts. Attackers rely on users reusing passwords across different sites. 

Impact: Successful credential stuffing attacks can lead to account takeovers, financial theft, and personal data breaches. 

Example: Attackers using stolen credentials from a data breach to log into users’ accounts on various platforms like email, social media, and banking services.

8. Social Engineering

Social engineering attacks exploit human psychology to trick individuals into divulging confidential information. Techniques include pretexting, baiting, and tailgating.

Impact: Social engineering can bypass technical security measures by manipulating people into breaking security protocols. 

Example: An attacker posing as an IT support person to trick an employee into revealing their login credentials.