15 Most Preferred Hacking Techniques

 

According to Cyber security Ventures, worldwide cyber crime will cost an estimated $10.5 trillion per year by 2025. 

Hackers are always at work trying to gain access to people's personal information. Hacking Techniques are becoming more common and more effective with time. As such, countermeasures need to advance in turn.

When businesses suffer these attacks the losses can be devastating, so it is essential to be properly prepared.

For information on some of the most common types of attacks used by hackers, keep reading.

The Most Popular Hacking Techniques

RCE Remote Command Execution

Commonly executed through malicious software downloaded onto the host's device. Hackers are then able to execute commands on the host's device from anywhere.

1. SQL Injection / Blind SQL Injection

SQL Injections are attacks often used on websites. It involves using malicious SQL code to gain access to information in a database.

2. XSS Cross-site Scripting/Reflected XSS

Hackers can inject malicious scripts into otherwise ordinary websites. By sending this on to end-users attackers are able to access any information which is used by the website within the end-user's browser.

Reflected XXS attacks are similar but require the end-user to click on an embedded link to the website. This link will usually be in an email or on a third-party website.

3. Directory Traversal

Using web server software hackers can access files and information outside of the root directory of a web server. The entire web server is then vulnerable to the attacker.

4. Spear Phishing

Done by sending out emails that look legitimate but will link back to a fake website. Usually designed to access and steal data from users, but sometimes will also install malicious software on the user's device.

5. Zero-Day

Zero-Day exploits are issues that hackers are able to exploit before a developer has been able to patch them. This is because hackers are sometimes able to identify exploits before the developer.

These can be used on a number of systems including web browsers, operating systems, and office applications.

6. Keylogger

Keyloggers are able to record the keystrokes of a user and send the information to the hacker. Commonly in the form of malicious software or malware, but can also be hardware-based.

7. Bait and Switch Attack

Hackers will sometimes buy ad space on websites, but replace the ads with links that take users to malicious sites. The sites can then automatically download malware to the user's computer, or present an illegitimate offer to steal the user's data.

8. ClickJacking Ads

Similar to bait and switch, but done by employing invisible layers over links/buttons which will take the user to an illegitimate page.

9. Denial of Service (DoS/DDoS)

This is when a hacker will overload a server with internet traffic using a botnet, causing the server to crash. Bots used for this will all be legitimate devices, making it hard to differentiate between the bots and genuine traffic.

10. Cookie Theft

Hackers are able to copy unencrypted data from users when they access websites over insecure connections, such as public wifi networks.

The hacker can then perform malicious actions through any websites that the user has been interacting with.

11. Eavesdropping

Similar to cookie theft, this usually occurs on unsecured networks. A hacker is able to intercept data as it is transferred between devices.

Quite often this involves with a physical listening device (a bug) used to record phone conversations. Modern technology allows hackers to even do this digitally, without ever physically having access to the device.

12. Credential Reuse/Credential Stuffing

If hackers are able to obtain an individual's username and password for an online account, they are then able to enter these into other applications in an attempt to gain further information. 

Automation tools are used when a hacker has a large database of credentials. The data is entered automatically into different applications until it gains access.

As most users tend to have the same username and password across a number of accounts this can be a very effective method used by attackers.

13. Browser Locker

Browser lockers use fake web pages to trick users into thinking their computer is locked. These often involve popups that contain demands for things such as personal information or a money transfer.

Intimidating messages and sound effects are often involved to increase the feeling of a threat to the user.

14. DNS (Domain Name Server) Spoofing

Hackers can use fraudulent DNS data to control where traffic is sent. They are capable of sending traffic from a legitimate website to a malicious one in order to steal the user's data. 

15. Non-Targeted Website Hack

As suggested by the name, this does not target specific websites. Rather it targets a specific vulnerability in a plugin, template, or system.

The hacker then uses bots to search for websites that use these systems, and therefore have this vulnerability.

They are then able to exploit this to steal/delete data or place malware into the server.

Simple Precautions to Avoid Common Hacking Techniques?

There are a number of precautions that should be taken to prevent hacking. For individuals this can include:

• Avoid using public/unsecured networks
• Avoid using untrusted apps
• Ignore unexpected emails/communications
• Use security software
• Avoid uncertain links
• Use different credentials on different applications
• Cyber security protection software and hardware

How Can Businesses Protect Themselves from Hacking?

To protect a business, steps such as those given above should be taken by all staff. When necessary, customers/users should also be advised similarly. Cyber-Liability insurance is also advisable to help in the event are any issues with data security.

One of the most important things is to stay up to date. Hackers are always developing new and more advanced hacking techniques, so forms of protection need to keep up.

Click here to sign up for the SecPoint newsletter, which provides software/partner updates, as well as IT security alert news and campaign news.