3.3: What Type of Attack? Cyber Threats

An attacker impersonates a high-ranking executive, such as the CEO, and emails a finance department employee, instructing them to urgently transfer a large sum of money to an external account. The email is crafted to look legitimate and create a sense of urgency, leading the employee to bypass normal verification procedures.

• phishing

• malware

• ransomware

• social engineering

A ransomware worm that spread rapidly in 2017, encrypting hundreds of thousands of computers worldwide. It exploited a vulnerability in Microsoft Windows.

• phishing

• malware

• ransomware

• social engineering

The Colonial Pipeline, a major US fuel pipeline, was shut down due to an attack. The attackers, DarkSide, demanded and received a ransom payment.

• phishing

• malware

• ransomware

• social engineering

A user receives an email that appears to be from their bank, warning of suspicious activity on their account. The email contains a link to a fake website that looks identical to the bank's site, where the user is prompted to enter their login credentials. The attacker then steals this information.

• phishing

• malware

• ransomware

• social engineering

An email claims a package could not be delivered and asks the recipient to click a link to update their address. The link leads to a malicious website that installs malware.

• phishing

• malware

• ransomware

• social engineering

An attacker leaves a USB drive labeled 'Confidential HR Files' in a common area. A curious employee plugs the drive into their computer, unwittingly installing malware.

• phishing

• malware

• ransomware

• social engineering

A sophisticated computer worm discovered in 2010 that targeted Iran's nuclear facilities. It damaged centrifuges and disrupted the country's nuclear program.

• phishing

• malware

• ransomware

• social engineering

During the pandemic, many emails impersonated different health organizations, offering early access to vaccines in exchange for personal information.

• phishing

• malware

• ransomware

• social engineering

JBS Foods, the world's largest meat processing company, was targeted by a ransomware attack. The company paid an $11 million ransom to prevent further disruption to its operations.

• phishing

• malware

• ransomware

• social engineering

A modular banking trojan that spread through spam emails. It evolved into a major distributor of other threats.

• phishing

• malware

• ransomware

• social engineering