Malware
Malware is the generic name for all malicious software including:
- Viruses - self-replicating files normally embedded inside another file
- Worms - self-replicating files downloaded when you open an infected file
- Trojans - provide a back door for hackers to access your files and computer
-
Spyware - allow the hacker to view or record keystrokes
- Ransomware - encrypts your files unless you pay a ransom for the decryption key
Brute force attack
This is an attempt to crack a password by trying every possible combination of letters and numbers.
Denial of service attacks
A denial of service (DOS) attack is where a server is flooded with more requests than it can handle slowing it down and making it hard to identify the real requests. A
distributed denial of service (DDOS) attack is the same thing, but it makes use of multiple computers to flood the target with requests.
Data interception and theft
Data may be intercepted during transmission. This is primarily a concern on wireless networks where data moves through the air and hackers use tools such as packet sniffers
to try to access the data. With a wired network this is far more difficult as you have to physically connect to the network.
SQL injection
SQL, or structured query language, is the language used to interrogate a database. SQL injection is where hackers enter SQL code into input boxes on web forms and manage to
interact with the database.