Hackers use a variety of attack techniques, which have evolved over time as technology and cyber defenses have changed. Here is an overview of past and current attack techniques, with an analysis of how they have adapted to technological advances.
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Attack Techniques of the Past
In the 1980s and 1990s, cyber attacks were often less sophisticated than today’s, but just as devastating. Many of these techniques represented the foundation of what has become more complex today.
Phreaking
Among the earliest forms of hacking, phreaking targeted telecommunications systems. Hackers, called “phreakers”, exploited the tones emitted by telephone lines to obtain free calls. One of the most famous examples is the “Blue Box”, a device that allowed phone networks to be manipulated by simulating tones.
Viruses and Worms
In the 1990s, viruses such as the Morris Worm, one of the first to spread on the Internet, showed the vulnerability of connected networks. These attacks were based on self-replicating software that spread from one computer to another, causing damage and saturating system resources.
Buffer Overflow Attacks
This technique, particularly common in the 1990s, exploited poor memory management by programs. By inserting data beyond the limits of a buffer, hackers could execute malicious code within a system, taking control of the machine.
Current Attack Techniques
As computer security has evolved, hackers have developed more sophisticated techniques to overcome modern defense systems. Many of these techniques combine old knowledge with innovative approaches.
Phishing and Spear Phishing
Phishing remains one of the most widespread techniques. It consists of sending emails or messages that appear to come from trusted sources to trick victims into providing sensitive information. Spear phishing is a targeted version, targeting specific individuals or organizations, making the attack more difficult to detect.
Ransomware
In recent years, ransomware has become one of the most serious threats. This type of malware encrypts victim data and demands a ransom to decrypt it. Attacks such as WannaCry and revil have caused enormous damage globally, locking up companies and institutions until the ransom is paid.
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks
Using a network of compromised devices (botnet), hackers launch DDoS attacks to overload servers and make online services inaccessible. These attacks have become more powerful due to the proliferation of Iot devices, which often have unprotected vulnerabilities.
Zero-Day Exploits
A zero-day exploit exploits unknown vulnerabilities in software or operating systems. Because these flaws have not yet been identified and fixed by manufacturers, zero-day attacks can be extremely damaging. Hackers often sell these vulnerabilities on the black market, making them a valuable resource for targeted attacks.
Emerging Attack Techniques
Emerging technologies have given rise to new forms of attacks, which continue to evolve based on current digital trends.
Social Engineering
Although social manipulation has always existed, it is now refined with more complex techniques. Hackers study the behaviors of their victims, using social media to gather personal information that can make their fraud attempts more credible.
Deepfakes and AI-based Attacks
With the advent of artificial intelligence, hackers have begun using technologies such as deepfakes to manipulate video and audio, creating fake content for the purpose of extortion or fraud. AIs are also being used to automate the search for vulnerabilities and to enhance phishing capabilities with more persuasive messages.
Supply Chain Attacks
In these attacks, hackers compromise a software or service during its development or deployment phase. A prime example was the attack on SolarWinds, where hackers inserted malware within software updates, thereby affecting numerous companies and government agencies.