Skip To Main Content
Clint Independent School District

Logo Title

Types of cybersecurity attacks

Types of cybersecurity attacks

1. Phishing

  • Definition: A type of attack where cyber criminals trick you into providing personal information (like passwords) by pretending to be someone trustworthy, usually via email.
  • Example: An email from someone pretending to be your principal asking for your login information.

2. Malware

  • Definition: Malicious software designed to harm or exploit your computer or network.
  • Types: Viruses, worms, spyware, and ransomware.
  • Example: Downloading a game that secretly installs software to steal your personal information.

3. Ransomware

  • Definition: A type of malware that locks or encrypts your files and demands money (a ransom) to unlock them.
  • Example: A message that appears on your computer demanding money to regain access to your schoolwork.

4. Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attacks

  • Definition: An attack where a website or network is overwhelmed with traffic, making it unavailable to users.
  • Example: A school website being flooded with fake traffic so students and staff can’t access it.

5. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks

  • Definition: When an attacker secretly intercepts and potentially alters communication between two parties.
  • Example: A hacker intercepting your connection while using public Wi-Fi, allowing them to steal your login details.

6. Data Breaches

  • Definition: When sensitive information (like student records or staff data) is accessed without authorization.
  • Example: A hacker breaking into the school database and stealing student records.

7. Password Attacks

  • Definition: Attempts to steal or guess a user’s password.
  • Example: Using common passwords like "password123" makes it easy for attackers to guess.

8. SQL Injection

  • Definition: An attack where cybercriminals insert malicious code into a website’s database to steal or alter information.
  • Example: Exploiting a school’s website form to access and modify student grades.

9. Zero-Day Exploits

  • Definition: Attacks that take advantage of software vulnerabilities that developers don’t know about yet.
  • Example: A hacker using a security flaw in a school’s learning management system before it gets fixed.

10. Social Engineering

  • Definition: Manipulating people into divulging confidential information.
  • Example: A hacker pretending to be from the IT department asking for your password to “fix” an issue.