Common Types of Cyberattacks and How to Defend Against Them

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Introduction:

Cyberattacks are evolving rapidly, targeting individuals, businesses, and governments. Understanding common attack vectors and mitigation techniques is critical for cybersecurity professionals. This article covers key threats, verified defensive commands, and best practices to secure systems.

Learning Objectives:

  • Identify common cyberattack methods (phishing, malware, DDoS, etc.).
  • Apply Linux/Windows commands to detect and mitigate threats.
  • Implement security hardening for cloud, APIs, and network infrastructure.

1. Phishing Attack Detection with Email Header Analysis

Command (Linux):

grep -iE 'from:|to:|subject:|received:|return-path:' suspicious_email.eml

What it does: Extracts key email headers to identify spoofed senders or relay servers.

Steps:

  1. Save the suspicious email as a `.eml` file.
  2. Run the command to analyze headers for anomalies (e.g., mismatched Return-Path).

3. Cross-check sender domains with tools like MXToolbox.

2. Malware Detection with Windows PowerShell

Command (Windows):

Get-MpThreatDetection | Where-Object { $_.InitialDetectionTime -gt (Get-Date).AddDays(-7) } | Format-Table -AutoSize

What it does: Lists malware detected by Windows Defender in the last 7 days.

Steps:

1. Open PowerShell as Administrator.

2. Execute the command to review recent threats.

3. Quarantine flagged files using `Remove-MpThreat -ThreatID `.

3. DDoS Mitigation with Cloudflare API

Command (cURL):

curl -X POST "https://api.cloudflare.com/client/v4/zones/<ZONE_ID>/settings/security_level" \
-H "Authorization: Bearer <API_TOKEN>" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
--data '{"value": "under_attack"}'

What it does: Activates Cloudflare’s “Under Attack” mode to challenge suspicious traffic.

Steps:

  1. Replace `` and `` with your Cloudflare credentials.
  2. Run during an attack to enable JS/CAPTCHA challenges.

4. Vulnerability Scanning with Nmap

Command (Linux):

nmap -sV --script vulners <TARGET_IP>

What it does: Scans for known CVEs using Nmap’s Vulners script.

Steps:

1. Install Nmap and the Vulners script:

sudo apt install nmap && sudo nmap --script-updatedb

2. Run the scan to list vulnerabilities (e.g., outdated Apache versions).

5. SIEM Alert Tuning with Splunk Query

Command (Splunk SPL):

index=firewall action=block | stats count by src_ip | sort -count | head 10

What it does: Identifies top blocked IPs to refine false positives.

Steps:

1. Log into Splunk and run the query.

  1. Add legitimate IPs to an allowlist or adjust threshold rules.

6. Cloud Hardening for AWS S3 Buckets

Command (AWS CLI):

aws s3api put-bucket-policy --bucket <BUCKET_NAME> --policy file://block_public_access.json

Policy Template (`block_public_access.json`):

{
"Version": "2012-10-17",
"Statement": [{ "Effect": "Deny", "Principal": "", "Action": "s3:", "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::<BUCKET_NAME>/" }]
}

What it does: Blocks all public access to an S3 bucket.

7. API Security with JWT Validation

Command (Node.js):

const jwt = require('jsonwebtoken');
jwt.verify(token, process.env.SECRET_KEY, (err, decoded) => {
if (err) throw new Error("Invalid token");
});

What it does: Validates JWT tokens to prevent unauthorized API access.

Steps:

1. Install the `jsonwebtoken` package.

  1. Integrate middleware to verify tokens on protected routes.

What Undercode Say:

  • Proactive Defense: Regular scans (Nmap, Splunk) and zero-trust policies (AWS/S3) reduce attack surfaces.
  • Automation Wins: Cloudflare API and PowerShell scripts enable rapid response.
  • Future Trends: AI-driven attacks (e.g., deepfake phishing) will demand adaptive ML-based defenses.

Analysis:

The shift to cloud and remote work has expanded attack vectors. Organizations must prioritize real-time monitoring (SIEM), automate threat containment, and train staff to recognize social engineering. Investments in XDR and threat intelligence platforms will dominate 2025+ cybersecurity budgets.

Prediction:

By 2026, AI-powered attacks will automate phishing payloads and bypass MFA, requiring behavioral biometrics and decentralized identity solutions.

IT/Security Reporter URL:

Reported By: Priombiswas Itsec – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅

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