Comparison of the most common cybersecurity threats.

No complex definitions or technical jargon. Let's categorize the common types of cyberattacks in simple language so that even a fresh graduate can easily understand what they are, how they happen, and the purpose behind them.

Quick way to remember

• Malware → Malicious software.
• Virus → Infects files and spreads when the infected file runs.
• Worm → Spreads automatically across networks.
• Ransomware → Locks or encrypts your data for ransom.
• Phishing → Tricks people into revealing information.
• Spoofing → Pretends to be someone or something else.
• DDoS → Overwhelms a service with traffic to make it unavailable.
• MITM → Secretly intercepts communication.
• SQL Injection → Attacks databases through vulnerable web applications.
• XSS → Injects malicious scripts into websites.
• Brute Force → Guesses passwords by trying many combinations.
• Zero-Day → Exploits a vulnerability before a fix is available.

For IT administrators and security teams, the typical defense stack includes:

• Microsoft Defender or another endpoint protection platform for malware and ransomware.
• Defender for Office 365 (or equivalent) for phishing protection.
• Email authentication (SPF, DKIM, DMARC) to reduce spoofing.
• Firewalls, WAFs, and DDoS protection to defend network and web services.
• Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) to reduce the impact of password attacks.
• SIEM platforms such as Splunk or Microsoft Sentinel to detect, investigate, and respond to security incidents across the environment.