What is a cyber-attack?
- A cyber-attack is any attempt to gain unauthorized access
to a computer, computing system or computer network with the intent to cause
damage. Cyber-attacks aim to disable, disrupt, destroy or control computer
systems or to alter, block, delete, manipulate or steal the data held within
these systems.
- A cyber-attack can be launched from anywhere by any
individual or group using one or more various attack strategies.
- People who carry out cyber-attacks are generally regarded
as cybercriminals. Often referred to as bad actors, threat actors and hackers,
they include individuals who act alone, drawing on their computer skills to
design and execute malicious attacks. They can also belong to a criminal
syndicate, working with other threat actors to find weaknesses or problems in
the computer systems -- called vulnerabilities -- that can be exploited for
criminal gain.
- Government-sponsored groups of computer experts also
launch cyber-attacks. They're identified as nation-state attackers, and they
have been accused of attacking the information technology (IT) infrastructure
of other governments, as well as nongovernment entities, such as businesses,
nonprofits and utilities.
Why do cyber-attacks happen?
Cyber-attacks are designed to cause damage. They can have
various objectives, including the following:
Financial gain: Most cyber-attacks today, especially those
against commercial entities, are launched by cybercriminals for financial gain.
These attacks often aim to steal sensitive data, such as customer credit card
numbers or employee personal information, which the cybercriminals then use to
access money or goods using the victims' identities.
Disruption and revenge: Bad actors also launch attacks
specifically to sow chaos, confusion, discontent, frustration or mistrust. They
could be taking such action as a way to get revenge for acts taken against
them. They could be aiming to publicly embarrass the attacked entities or to
damage the organizations' reputation. These attacks are often directed at
government entities but can also hit commercial entities or nonprofit
organizations.
Nation-state attackers are behind some of these types of
attacks. Others, called hacktivists, might launch these types of attacks as a
form of protest against the targeted entity; a secretive decentralized group of
internationalist activists known as Anonymous is the most well-known of such
groups.
Cyberwarfare: Governments around the world are also involved
in cyber-attacks, with many national governments acknowledging or suspected of
designing and executing attacks against other countries as part of ongoing
political, economic and social disputes. These types of attacks are classified
as cyberwarfare.
Want to be anonymous online to view blocked websites, protect yourself from hackers or want to hack someone and stay un-traced? In the following post i will explain 4 easy ways by which you can stay anonymous online!
1. Using Proxies
A proxy is an address (IP address) of a Server (proxy
server) that is placed between your computer and the Internet The advantage of
a proxy is that your real IP address is Hidden so when you hack your giving the
IP address of the proxy server and not your real IP address Same way if you’re
a normal Internet user the hacker won't get your real IP but the IP of the
proxy server. You can use it to enter site or forum that you are IP is banned.
To know more about proxies let me know above this post and I will post a full tutorial
about it.
2. Using Tor
Tor-proxy is a free proxy-server service that Internet users
can use to hide their IP address while surfing the Web. Tor (The Onion Router)
is free software for enabling online anonymity. Tor directs Internet traffic
through a free, worldwide volunteer network consisting of more than three
thousand relays to conceal a user's location or usage from anyone. I have
written a complete How to guide on how to use tor - just let me know if you
need it
3. SSH Tunneling
SSH tunnel is an encrypted tunnel created through an SSH
protocol connection. SSH tunnels may be used to tunnel unencrypted traffic over
a network through an encrypted channel. In easy language, you can surf net
without being monitored and even surf blocked sites too. To know more about SSH
and SSH tunneling let me know if you would like to read: SSH tunneling guide.
4. Using VPN
Virtual Private Network. Basically, it’s a private network
which lets users to connect to other users or remote sites using a public
network usually internet. It uses “virtual” connections routed through the
Internet from the company’s private network to the remote site or employee
instead of physical connections. In short, it is private network constructed
within a public network infrastructure, such as the global Internet. The
Biggest difference between proxy and VPN is everything in a VPN is encrypted
which gives an additional layer of security.