Types of Attackers and How They Target Your Business

Are you ready to counter cyber attackers? 

Do you know who is after your business and how they do it? 

As businesses move more of their operations online, there will be increasingly more cybersecurity threats. Knowing who to watch and how they attack is crucial in keeping ahead of the curve. Cybercriminals will always find new ways to exploit vulnerabilities, meaning businesses need to continuously adapt their defense tactics.

Cybersecurity Ventures estimates that global cybercrime costs are expected to reach ₹65 trillion a year by 2027, with a cyber attack happening every 39 seconds. The Ponemon Institute reports that 60% of small businesses go out of business within six months of a cyberattack. 

In 2019, Facebook experienced a large-scale cyberattack, causing the individual user's data of over 530 million users to be exposed.  No passwords were compromised as the breach occurred due to misconfigurations in the systems, allowing cybercriminals to access personal data. The personal data consisted of phone numbers, names, and Facebook IDs and ended up on the dark web being sold to other cybercriminals, creating a significant security risk for millions of Facebook users.

Although the breach may have caused major reputational harm, Facebook's response, through greater security and increased monitoring, started to restore user trust eventually. Facebook also incurred a fine of ₹410 billion from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for not protecting user data. This case illustrates the severe consequences in failing to secure data properly..

This case exemplifies the consequences of poor system configurations and a lack of action in protecting user information. Data breaches- call it external attacks or internal mismanagement, costly financial penalties, eroded customer confidence, and compromised future reputations. The important lesson here for business is the need to monitor system vulnerabilities continually and address the risks generated in those vulnerable systems.

What Are the Types of Attackers?

There are various types of attackers in the cyber world, each with distinct motives and methods. By identifying these types of attackers, businesses can take proactive steps to defend against their tactics. Below are the main types of cyber attackers that target businesses:

1. Hacktivists

Hacktivists are individuals or groups who launch cyberattacks for political, social, or environmental causes. They typically target organizations that they believe support causes they oppose. Hacktivism has been a growing concern as these attackers use their skills to make political statements or bring attention to specific issues.

• Motivation: Political or social activism.
  

• Tactics: Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, defacing websites, and stealing sensitive data to embarrass organizations or governments.
  

• Example: Anonymous, a well-known hacktivist group, has targeted organizations they believe are unethical or oppressive, including government websites and corporations involved in controversial activities.
  

2. Cybercriminals

Cybercriminals are motivated by profit. These attackers are responsible for the majority of cybercrimes, including data breaches, ransomware attacks, and financial fraud. Cybercriminals use a variety of methods to infiltrate networks, steal sensitive data, and demand ransoms or sell information on the dark web.

• Motivation: Financial gain through theft or extortion.
  

• Tactics: Ransomware, phishing, malware, and data theft.
  

• Example: The WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017 is a prime example where hackers encrypted files and demanded a ransom for their release, impacting thousands of organizations globally.
  

3. State-Sponsored Hackers

State-sponsored hackers are typically employed by governments to carry out espionage or sabotage against other nations or corporations. These hackers are highly skilled and use sophisticated tactics to infiltrate government systems, steal intellectual property, or disrupt critical infrastructure.

• Motivation: Espionage, national security interests, and intelligence gathering.
  

• Tactics: Advanced persistent threats (APTs), spear phishing, malware, and cyber-espionage.
  

• Example: The Sony Pictures hack in 2014, attributed to North Korean hackers, exposed sensitive company data and led to the release of unreleased films and private communications. This attack was believed to be retaliation for the movie The Interview.
  

4. Insiders (Disgruntled Employees)

Insiders, or disgruntled employees, can be some of the most dangerous attackers. These individuals already have authorized access to the company’s systems, making it easier for them to steal information or cause damage from within. These types of attackers often feel wronged or frustrated and use their insider knowledge to exploit the company.

• Motivation: Revenge, personal grievances, or financial gain.
  

• Tactics: Stealing data, manipulating company systems, or causing disruptions.
  

• Example: Edward Snowden, a former NSA contractor, leaked classified information regarding government surveillance programs. Although not malicious in intent, this incident highlights the potential damage insiders can cause.
  

5. Script Kiddies

Script kiddies are typically amateur hackers with limited technical skills who use pre-written scripts or software to exploit vulnerabilities. While they don't usually create their hacking tools, they can still cause significant damage by launching attacks such as DDoS or exploiting known vulnerabilities in systems.

• Motivation: Thrill, notoriety, or a desire to cause disruption.
  

• Tactics: Using publicly available scripts or tools to launch cyberattacks.
  

• Example: Many DDoS attacks in recent years, such as those targeting websites like GitHub and OVH, have been attributed to script kiddies using widely available DDoS tools.
  

How These Attackers Target Your Business

Now that we understand the types of attackers, let’s look at how they typically target businesses:

• Phishing Attacks: Attackers often use phishing emails to trick employees into revealing login credentials or downloading malicious attachments. This can lead to the compromise of sensitive company data and financial information.
  

• Social Engineering: Attackers manipulate employees into divulging confidential information by exploiting trust or exploiting human emotions. Social engineering often plays a role in insider attacks as well.
  

• Exploiting Software Vulnerabilities: Cybercriminals often scan for known vulnerabilities in outdated software or systems. If businesses fail to update their security patches regularly, they leave themselves open to attacks like ransomware or data breaches.
  

• Denial-of-Service (DoS): Cybercriminals can overload your network with traffic, causing website outages or downtime, which can disrupt business operations and harm customer trust.
  
  

The first part of developing an effective defense plan is knowing your attackers and how they're going to attack your business. Business are threatened by various groups including hacktivists, cybercriminals, state-sponsored hackers, insiders, and script kiddies. In order to best protect your business you need to develop a strong information security posture and constantly review your practices, provide ongoing training for employees, and constantly keep up to speed with the current cybersecurity practices.

If you are looking for assistance in defending your business against these evolving threats, you can reach out to us at [email protected] to find out more about how our cybersecurity solutions can protect your business.