Top 25 cyberattack Methods Used by Hackers

[Carding]

Hackers are always equipped with multiple techniques to take down their target, understanding their techniques can be helpful to interrupt their attack vectors, targets, and results. While their attacks could be of different types the mere intention is to erase, encrypt, steal or cause havoc to the targeted network or a device. In this article, we’ll be breaking down 25 cyberattack methods employed by hackers to take down networks or devices.

1. Hoaxes

Hoaxes are a false alert about malware or an attack. Hackers fake the presence of malware in the targeted device normally using a chain of emails. Hoax usually triggers the fear, anger, excitement or eagerness in the end-user. For example, It could be about the death of the celebrity, end of the world, presence of aliens, upcoming disaster, presence of spyware, etc, all these statements or promotions relating to it could be a Hoax. Unlike other cyberattacks, this isn’t dangerous, as it just creates a fake buzz around the internet and the target for a while. The objective could be to create fake news about the entity or waste the end users valuable time.

2. Social Engineering

Social engineering is a process of manipulating people to retrieve information or make them victim to other cyberattacks. It’s a deception created by hackers to lure the targets to disclose critical information directly. Social engineering usually involves a voice process followed by other methods like tailgating, spear-phishing, pretexting, and cold calling. Social engineering attacks are hard to escape unless the target is aware of the social engineering techniques and not disclose their passwords, credit card details, and other confidential data.

3. Denial of Service

Denial of Service (DOS) is a method of sending an enormous amount of traffic to a computer in a network. Hackers normally take help from multiple computers which act like botnets and drive traffic to a single computer network thus disturbing the normal and hence the device will fail ultimately. DOS attacks are usually employed as an initial step to break into a network and the device. Eventually, hackers will execute different attack techniques to infiltrate their data out of the network.

4. Man-in-the-Middle

A man-in-the-middle attack (MITM) is a process in which the hacker interrupts the communication between the sender and receiver to eavesdrop into their conversation and fetch the confidential data from that communication. In some cases, hackers can even disguise to be the receiver thus faking it to the sender successfully. Any unencrypted information can be easily intercepted by hackers using this MITM attack technique.

5. Buffer Overflows

Buffer is a temporary memory space allocated to any computer program for its process and workflow. At times computer programs may start using this space exponentially thus the overflow of the data happens, this is called the Buffer Overflow. This could be initiated by hackers intentionally targeting certain computer application using malware.

6. Data Injection

Data injection is the process of injecting random data into critical spaces in the networks, devices, and servers to cause confusion or disturb the actual workflow, resulting in misinterpretation of the data. Unlike the traditional means where hackers go around to encrypt or steal the data, in this case, they add more data to manipulate users and take advantage of it.

7. Cross-site Scripting

Cross-site scripting (XSS) is hacking methodology where hackers insert a malicious JavaScript code into a website and wait for the users to land on the website so that they can gain access to users device or data at their end. XSS can be used for various means like to deploy malware, spy on their webcam and microphone, record your screens, install plugins, etc.

8. Cross-site Request Forgery

This is an attack where users are made to execute certain actions in the web applications without their own knowledge, by giving the picture as it is a legitimate and authenticated website. This attacks target states-changing request since the hacker will not able to see the request that is forged. This attack makes users perform malicious acts like transferring funds, changing email addresses, and more without the user’s knowledge.

9. Privilege Escalation

In this attack, the hacker gains escalated access to network devices using a programming flaw or network flaw that will help hackers penetrate the network critical data. Privilege escalation can be categorized into vertical and horizontal escalations. In vertical, the hackers will be able to access the higher-level data while in case of the latter, it is of the same level, like peer level, and accessing data of a different user under the same privilege.

10. DNS Poisoning and Domain Hijacking

DNS poisoning is the method of faking the location of the actual DNS server, more like spoofing to drive the traffic away from the actual server to the fakes ones that the hacker has set up. However, domain hijacking is a process of theft where the registered domain name is changed without the permission of the original owner, by taking advantage of the hostings and software used for domain registrations.

11. Zero-Day Attacks

Software and applications do contain vulnerabilities which often can be patched if the vendors have released the patches. However, at times it will take a while until the patches are rolled out for that vulnerability. If the discovery of the vulnerability and the attack happened on the same day, it is called the Zero-day attack.

Hackers usually exploit the vulnerability that has been disclosed in public to exploit them later. This is why organizations run a bug bounty program to reward the testers who identify the vulnerabilities in software or network and report it to them in the first place.

12. Replay Attacks

In replay attacks, hackers use certain hacking techniques to slow down or repeat the transmission of the valid data to a network. Replay attacks are used to fool the senders in believing that their data transmission was successful but in reality, the hackers have faked this information. Replay attacks are used to fetch data that is confidential between a send and receiver using a network security protocol.

13. Client Hijacking Attacks

Instead of taking over servers, at times hackers directly take over the clients to breach into their data. This is done by faking the URL and hijacking it. There is a number of reasons to hijack URLs and sell it to the potential buyers making money out of it. Hackers use this attack to put himself inside the client device rather inside the server.

14. Driver Manipulation

Hackers can get deep into your endpoints, and undermine the security of your drivers. Since operating systems interact with the hardware in your device using these drivers, breaching into these drivers will allow hackers to take control of your display and audio, disable AV, and even shut down your graphic processors remotely. Driver manipulation is of two types, Shimming and Refactoring.

15. Spoofing

Hackers will break into a device or network by faking their GPS location continuously so that when security professionals track back the origin of attack they will end up finding a fake location than the original one. Spoofing is usually built up in more than one layer, meaning the hacker could actually be located in London, but he may be faking his location to be in Texas, Tokyo, and Dubai all at the same time.

16. Wireless Replay Attacks

When a replay attack is executed on a wireless network exploiting the vulnerabilities in that wireless network it is called Wireless Replay Attack.

17. Rogue Access Points and Evil Twins

Any access points in the network which the hacker can access physically to gain access to the network using that illegitimate AP is called as Rogue Access Point Attacks. However Evil Twin is similar to the RAP, but it does create a fake network similar to the original one, making it look legitimate.

18. Remote code execution

Remote code execution will allow hackers to execute commands to the target devices remotely using the vulnerability existing in the device or the network from a different location. Remote code executions are easy to execute once the hacker is aware of the vulnerability in a software or network.

19. WPS Attacks

WPS attack is a process of gaining access to wireless networks by brute-forcing passphrases into the user device from which the WPS is hosted. Example: A user has configured a device for wireless network using WAP which requires the PIN as protection. Hackers can break through these PIN numbers and infiltrate the network.

20. Bluejacking and Bluesnarfing

Accessing an unauthorize information and data using a wireless device like Bluetooth, desktops, tablets and mobile devices is called as Bluesnarfing. The process of theft is Bluesnarfing and the process of transmitting data to the target device is called as Bluejacking.

21. Wireless Attacks

Taking down a network or a device using wireless means is called as wireless attacks. There are different types of wireless attacks like rogue wireless access attacks, eavesdropping, waterhole attacks, and more.

22. Cryptographic Attacks

Taking down networks and systems by infiltrating into the weakness of crypto codes, cipher and cryptography are called a cryptographic attack. This is usually done when there is cryptographic security being established in the targeted network.

23. SQL Injection Attacks (SQLi)

The method of using SQL statements to breach into a database server within a web application is called a SQL injection attack. This is usually used to get past the application securities that is inbuilt in the targeted application.

24. Tailgating and Impersonation

Tailgating is the process of physically following a targeted user into his secured premises to breach into his data for further infiltration. Moreover, impersonation is when a hacker disguises himself as a different person in order to fetch information or access critical data which that disguised person would be capable of.

25. Spear phishing

The process of performing a phishing attack on a targeted user or device, by planning the overall execution in long term and executing it perfectly to make sure there is zero traces of a cyberattack is called Spear Phishing. This will be ten times more perfect and accurate than a normal phishing attack.

All these 25 cyberattacks can be employed by hackers to infiltrate into your network/device and extract data, encrypt data, spy on you or cause chaos to your network and business. Equipping the right security controls can save you from unforeseen cyber attacks and keep your network safe from these anonymous breaches.

Hope this article helpful for you. Thank You.



(c) https://hackonology.com/blogs/top-25-cyberattack-methods-used-by-hackers-2019/

 

[Carding 4 Carders]

The strangest hacking techniques​

1. keyboard Capture

There are many types of malware that infect computers and track the click of every button on them – such programs are called keyloggers. Some enterprising researchers in the field of information security have found that for such purposes, you can not use keyloggers in cases where one of the wireless keyboards is connected to the computer.

According to the experiments, they were able to scan radio signals passing between the keyboard and the computer from a distance of 50 meters. When they analyzed the data, it turned out that many keyboards sent this information in plain text, including passwords and payment details.

The good news is that now most wireless keyboards use Bluetooth, which automatically encrypts data when you press keys, and therefore such data is almost impossible to intercept or read. However, if you are using an older 2.4 GHz wireless keyboard (which usually requires a small dongle plugged into a USB port to work), you may need to consider replacing it.

2. Computer fans

When hackers break into a computer, they usually use the Internet to send the stolen data back to themselves. To protect critical confidential information, companies use computers with so-called "air gap" (air gap), which are not connected to the Internet at all, which makes it much more difficult for cyber criminals to access them.

Cyber security experts at Ben-Gurion University in Israel have found a way to overcome the "air gap" by using cooling fans built into almost every computer and laptop. By infecting such a computer with an "air gap" with malware, you can adjust the speed of the fans in the computer by changing the noise they make, almost like (silent) musical notes.

Each of these "notes" corresponds to a specific letter of the alphabet. Thus, by adjusting the fan speed, the malware can transmit stolen data (such as passwords) in the form of sounds to another nearby device connected to the Internet. This method is time-consuming and unlikely to be dangerous for home users (very few of us use computers with an "air gap"), but it does work.

3. Microphones on your hard drive

You probably already know that your smartphone and smart speakers are constantly listening to your home , and this is quite a significant risk. However, your computer can also "listen", and not just through the microphone.

Hackers have discovered that they can use the hard drive built into your computer to do similar work. Inside the disc, parts are finely balanced to minimize the damaging effects of vibrations; the disc stops reading and writing when it vibrates. These pauses can last for fractions of a second, but the more intense the vibration, the longer the pause.

Using this knowledge, hackers were able to use the hard drive as a microphone. They can recreate sounds, such as voices that cause pauses. The decoded sounds can then be sent back to the hacker via the Internet.

However, the good news is that hard drives are becoming less and less common in new computers. They are being replaced by faster solid-state drives that have no moving parts and are not subject to sound vibrations.

 

[Tomcat]

USA and UK accused Russia of cyberattack on Georgia​

The US and UK governments have issued official statements accusing Russia of carrying out a coordinated cyberattack on thousands of Georgian sites in October 2019.
The incident is considered the largest hacker attack in the post-Soviet space. Unknown persons hacked into the networks of at least one hosting provider and defaced 15,000 websites, including government, news, commercial and non-profit organizations. Attackers published a photo of former Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili with the words “I'll be back” on them. Due to the hacking of the provider, some TV and radio stations could not go on the air.
Russia is behind the attack, according to the US and UK. “The US calls on Russia to stop this behavior in Georgia and elsewhere. The stability of cyberspace depends on the responsible reaction of the nation, ”said US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation immediately reacted to the accusations and declared that Russia was not involved in the cyberattack.
“Russia has nothing to do with this. We are not interfering anywhere and we are not going to interfere, ”Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said at a meeting with journalists.

 

[chushpan]

Building on the previous foundation, here is a fully expanded, detailed, and comprehensive comment on the topic of common cyberattack methods, written for a technically-inclined audience.

This is an absolutely vital thread. A list of attack methods is more than just a "how-to" for offensive actions; it's the definitive blueprint for building a robust defense. Understanding the adversary's toolkit is the first and most critical step in effective cybersecurity. For everyone from the aspiring pentester to the seasoned CISO, this knowledge is non-negotiable.

Let's do a deep dive into a curated selection of these methods, moving beyond simple definitions to explore their mechanics, real-world impact, and the underlying reasons for their success.

The Human Element: The Unpatchable Vulnerability​

1. Social Engineering & Phishing
This isn't just #1 on the list; it's the root cause of a vast majority of breaches. Technology can be patched; human psychology is a constant.

• Evolution: It has evolved far beyond the "Nigerian Prince" email. We now see:
  • Spear-Phishing: Highly targeted emails using personal information (e.g., from LinkedIn or a previous data breach) to build trust.
  • Whaling: Targeting C-level executives with meticulously crafted messages, often mimicking legal subpoenas or board communications.
  • Business Email Compromise (BEC): A sophisticated form of whaling where the attacker, impersonating a CEO or vendor, instructs an employee to wire large sums of money. The FBI reports billions in losses annually from BEC.
  • Smishing & Vishing: Phishing via SMS (Smishing) and voice calls (Vishing). With the rise of 2FA via SMS, smishing has become incredibly effective for intercepting one-time codes.
• Why it Works: It exploits fundamental human traits: trust in authority, fear of urgency, and curiosity. A well-crafted phishing email can bypass millions of dollars in security infrastructure in seconds.

2. Insider Threats
The threat from within is uniquely dangerous because it operates with a level of inherent trust.

• Categories:
  • Malicious Insider: A disgruntled employee intentionally stealing IP, sabotaging systems, or planting logic bombs.
  • Negligent Insider: An well-meaning employee who accidentally exposes data (e.g., misconfiguring an S3 bucket), clicks a phishing link, or loses a device.
  • Compromised Insider: An employee whose credentials have been stolen by an external attacker, allowing the attacker to operate as a "legitimate" user.
• Detection Challenge: Their activity blends with normal network traffic. Detecting them requires advanced User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) to spot anomalies, like accessing files they never normally would or downloading large data volumes outside business hours.

The Technical Arsenal: Exploiting System Flaws​

3. Ransomware
This has transformed from a nuisance to a national security threat, embodying a mature cybercrime economy.

• The Modern Ransomware Kill Chain:
  1. Initial Access: Often via phishing, RDP brute-forcing, or exploiting a public-facing application (like a VPN vulnerability).
  2. Lateral Movement: The attacker moves through the network, escalating privileges to domain admin level.
  3. Reconnaissance & Exfiltration: They identify critical data and exfiltrate it to external servers.
  4. Deployment: The ransomware is deployed across the network, encrypting files on servers and workstations.
  5. Extortion: The classic ransom demand for the decryption key is now coupled with the threat to publish the stolen data (Double Extortion). Some gangs add a third layer: DDoS attacks on the victim's website to increase pressure.
• Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS): Platforms like LockBit, REvil, and BlackCat operate like software companies. They develop and maintain the ransomware, leasing it to "affiliates" who carry out the attacks in exchange for a cut of the profits. This democratizes high-level cybercrime.

4. Supply Chain Attacks
Why attack one organization when you can attack its software vendor and infect thousands?

• Mechanism: The attacker compromises a trusted component of the software supply chain. This could be:
  • A Software Update Mechanism: As seen in the SolarWinds Sunburst attack, where a malicious DLL was distributed through a legitimate software update to 18,000 customers.
  • An Open-Source Library: The near-miss xz utils backdoor is a perfect example, where a maintainer was socially engineered over two years to introduce a backdoor into a critical compression library used by millions.
  • A Third-Party Vendor: A less-secure HVAC or accounting firm with network access to a larger target.
• Impact: It shatters the "trust but verify" model. How can you verify every line of code in every library you use? The blast radius is catastrophic.

5. Zero-Day Exploits
These are the master keys of the cyber world—vulnerabilities unknown to the software vendor, for which no patch exists.

• Lifecycle: A zero-day is discovered, weaponized into an exploit, used in the wild, eventually detected by security researchers, disclosed to the vendor, patched, and then becomes a "n-day" vulnerability (where the race is on to patch before attackers exploit it).
• Economics: They are incredibly valuable. They are hoarded by nation-state agencies for espionage and cyber warfare (e.g., Stuxnet used multiple zero-days) and are sold on a thriving gray market to governments and, for a high price, on the dark web to cybercriminal groups. The recent MOVEit Transfer zero-day exploited by the Clop ransomware group shows how criminal groups are now leveraging these high-end weapons for mass data theft and extortion.

6. API Attacks
As the world runs on web and mobile applications, APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) have become the backbone of digital business—and a prime target.

• Common Attack Vectors:
  • Broken Object Level Authorization (BOLA): The most common API flaw. An attacker simply changes an ID in an API request (e.g., from /api/user/123 to /api/user/124) to access another user's data.
  • Mass Assignment: Exploiting endpoints that blindly assign user input to internal object properties, allowing an attacker to modify privileged fields they shouldn't have access to.
  • Unintended Data Exposure: APIs returning more data than the client needs (e.g., a user profile object that includes internal database IDs or hashed passwords).
• Scale: Attacks are automated, with bots scraping data from thousands of API endpoints simultaneously. The 2018 Facebook breach, exposing 50 million users' data, was ultimately an API vulnerability.

The Foundational Attacks: Old but Gold​

7. Credential Stuffing
This attack leverages the single greatest weakness in authentication: password reuse.

• Process: Attackers take massive databases of usernames/emails and passwords from previous breaches (readily available on hacking forums) and feed them into automated tools that test them against hundreds of other sites—banking, social media, email, etc.
• Defense Bypass: These tools are sophisticated; they can rotate IP addresses via proxies to avoid IP-based rate limiting and solve simple CAPTCHAs.
• Why it's so Effective: Studies consistently show that a significant percentage of users reuse passwords across personal and professional accounts. A breach of a minor gaming forum can lead to the compromise of corporate email accounts.

8. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks
The classic eavesdropping attack, still highly relevant, especially on unsecured or public Wi-Fi.

• Modern Variants:
  • ARP Spoofing: On a local network, tricking a device into sending its traffic to the attacker's machine instead of the real gateway.
  • SSL/TLS Stripping: Downgrading a user's connection from secure HTTPS to unencrypted HTTP, allowing the attacker to see everything in plaintext.
  • Evil Twin Attacks: Setting up a malicious Wi-Fi access point with a legitimate-sounding name (e.g., "Airport_Free_WiFi") to capture user traffic.

Conclusion: The Composite Kill Chain​

The most critical modern takeaway is that these methods are rarely used in isolation. A sophisticated attack is a kill chain that links several methods together.

A Hypothetical, But Realistic, Composite Attack:

1. Reconnaissance: Attacker finds an employee on LinkedIn.
2. Weaponization: Creates a spear-phishing email with a link to a fake O365 login page.
3. Delivery: Sends the email.
4. Exploitation: The employee enters their credentials (Phishing).
5. Installation: Attacker uses the stolen credentials to log into the O365 account, bypassing MFA via a session cookie theft or SIM-swapping attack (Social Engineering).
6. Command & Control (C2): From the email account, they send more phishing emails internally (Lateral Phishing).
7. Actions on Objectives:
   • They discover the company uses a specific file-transfer software. They search for and exploit a Zero-Day in that software to gain access to the internal network.
   • They move laterally, escalating privileges using a known but unpatched vulnerability in the OS.
   • They exfiltrate sensitive data via an unsecured API endpoint.
   • They deploy Ransomware across the network, leveraging the previously stolen data for double extortion.

Understanding this interconnectedness is what separates basic awareness from true defensive mastery. Defense is no longer about building a single wall; it's about creating a layered, resilient security posture (Defense in Depth) with monitoring, segmentation, and a well-trained human firewall.

This thread is an excellent resource. Discussing and dissecting these methods openly is how we collectively raise the bar for security. Thanks for posting.