What is Cyber Attack?

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A Cyber Attack is a malicious attempt by individuals or groups to breach, disrupt, damage, or steal data from a computer system, network, or digital infrastructure.

Purpose of Cyber Attacks:

  • Steal sensitive data (e.g., passwords, financial info, personal records)
  • Disrupt services (e.g., websites, applications, infrastructure)
  • Demand ransom (e.g., ransomware attacks)
  • Espionage or surveillance
  • Cause financial or reputational harm

Common Types of Cyber Attacks:

  1. Phishing – Fake emails or messages tricking users into revealing sensitive data.
  2. Malware – Viruses, ransomware, trojans, etc., used to compromise systems.
  3. Denial-of-Service (DoS/DDoS) – Overwhelming systems to take them offline.
  4. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) – Intercepting data between two parties.
  5. SQL Injection – Exploiting databases through web forms.
  6. Zero-Day Exploits – Attacks using newly discovered software vulnerabilities.
  7. Brute Force Attacks – Trying many passwords until the correct one is found.

Defense Against Cyber Attacks:

  • Firewalls & Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS)
  • Antivirus and anti-malware tools
  • Patch management
  • Strong passwords and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
  • Employee training and security awareness

You Should Know: Essential Cybersecurity Commands & Practices

1. Detecting & Preventing Malware (Linux/Windows)

  • Linux:
    Scan for malware using ClamAV 
sudo apt install clamav 
sudo freshclam  Update virus database 
clamscan -r /  Scan entire system

Check running processes 
ps aux | grep -i "suspicious_process"

Monitor network connections 
netstat -tulnp

  • Windows:

    Scan for malware using Windows Defender 
Start-MpScan -ScanType FullScan

Check active connections 
netstat -ano

List scheduled tasks (common malware persistence) 
schtasks /query /fo LIST /v

2. Preventing DDoS Attacks

  • Linux (Rate Limiting with iptables):

    Limit incoming connections per IP 
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -m connlimit --connlimit-above 20 -j DROP

Block excessive requests 
iptables -A INPUT -p tcp --dport 80 -m limit --limit 25/minute --limit-burst 100 -j ACCEPT

  • Windows (Using Firewall Rules):
    Block IPs with too many connections 
New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "Anti-DDoS" -Direction Inbound -Action Block -RemoteAddress "192.168.1.100"

3. Securing Against SQL Injection

  • Prevention in Web Apps:
    -- Use parameterized queries (PHP example) 
$stmt = $pdo->prepare("SELECT  FROM users WHERE email = :email"); 
$stmt->execute(['email' => $user_input]);
  • Detecting SQLi Attempts (Log Analysis):
    Check Apache logs for SQLi patterns 
grep -i "union.select" /var/log/apache2/access.log

4. Mitigating Brute Force Attacks

  • Linux (Fail2Ban):

    sudo apt install fail2ban 
sudo systemctl enable fail2ban 
sudo nano /etc/fail2ban/jail.local

Add SSH protection 
[bash] 
enabled = true 
maxretry = 3 
bantime = 1h

  • Windows (Account Lockout Policy):
    Set lockout threshold 
net accounts /lockoutthreshold:5

5. Zero-Day Exploit Mitigation

  • Linux (Kernel Hardening):

    Enable Kernel ASLR (Address Space Layout Randomization) 
echo 2 | sudo tee /proc/sys/kernel/randomize_va_space

Disable unnecessary kernel modules 
sudo modprobe -r unused_module

  • Windows (EMET/Exploit Protection):
    Enable Data Execution Prevention (DEP) 
bcdedit /set {current} nx AlwaysOn

What Undercode Say:

Cyber attacks are evolving, and defense requires proactive measures. Implementing strong firewalls, intrusion detection, and regular system hardening is crucial. Automation (like Fail2Ban) and strict access controls can significantly reduce attack surfaces.

Expected Output:

A hardened system with:

  • Malware scans running regularly.
  • Network traffic monitored for anomalies.
  • SQL injection attempts logged and blocked.
  • Brute force attacks mitigated via lockout policies.
  • Zero-day exploits minimized through kernel/OS hardening.

Prediction:

AI-driven cyber attacks will rise, requiring adaptive defenses like behavioral analysis and AI-powered threat detection. Organizations must invest in continuous security training and automated response systems.

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References:

Reported By: Ahmed Bawkar – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅

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