Types of Cyber Attacks & What They Are

Understanding the Different Types of Cyber Attacks, And How They Affect Your Business

Cyber Threats Are Growing Faster Than Ever

Cyber attacks are no longer limited to large corporations. Small and medium-sized businesses are now the primary target, because attackers know they often have weaker security and limited IT resources.

Understanding the most common threats is the first step in protecting your business.

1. Phishing Attacks

Phishing is the most common and dangerous type of cyber attack. These scams usually arrive by email but can also appear through texts, social media, or fake websites.

Phishing attacks aim to trick you into:

• Clicking malicious links

• Entering login details

• Downloading harmful attachments

• Sending money to scammers

These emails often look legitimate, pretending to be banks, suppliers, HMRC, or even your own team.

2. Malware Attacks

Malware includes:

• Viruses

• Trojans

• Spyware

• Worms

It can infect your systems through downloads, USB drives, and compromised websites. Malware allows attackers to steal data, damage systems, or spy on activities.

3. Ransomware

Ransomware locks your files and demands payment to restore access. It can shut your entire business down instantly.

Small businesses often pay because they don’t have proper backups, which is why ransomware is one of the most financially damaging attacks today.

4. DDoS Attacks

A Distributed Denial of Service attack floods your systems or website with traffic, causing:

• Slow performance

• Website downtime

• Disruption of services

This is particularly damaging for online businesses or customer-facing platforms.

5. Man-in-the-Middle Attacks

This attack occurs when a hacker secretly intercepts communication between two parties. It often happens on unsecured public Wi-Fi networks and can result in stolen passwords or financial data.

6. Password Attacks

Cybercriminals use automated tools to crack weak passwords or reuse stolen credentials. Once they gain access, they can steal data, lock accounts, or exploit your systems.

7. Insider Threats

Not all threats come from outside. Employees, intentionally or accidentally, can expose your business to risks. Examples include weak passwords, using personal email accounts, or downloading unauthorised software.

How to Protect Your Business

• Use strong, unique passwords and MFA.

• Train staff to identify phishing and scams.

• Keep devices updated with security patches.

• Use managed antivirus and firewalls.

• Back up your data daily to protect against ransomware.

A multi-layered approach is essential.

CapNet Protects You From Every Angle

Our cybersecurity solutions protect businesses from all modern threats with monitoring, prevention, and rapid response tools.