Types of Cyber Attacks and the Industries Most at Risk

Cyber threats have become increasingly sophisticated, costly, and widespread over the past year, affecting nearly every industry. In 2024, the average cost of a data breach climbed to a record of $4.88 million. This sharp rise highlights the growing financial pressure that cyber incidents place on organizations.

As attacks continue to grow in scale and complexity, it is more important than ever for businesses to recognize the most common types of cyberattacks and identify which industries face the greatest risk.

What Is a Cyber Attack?

A cyber attack is a deliberate attempt to breach or disrupt computer systems, often to steal sensitive data, install malicious software, or take down a targeted system. They can be carried out by individual hackers, organized cybercriminal groups, or even state-sponsored actors. Common methods include phishing, social engineering, ransomware, and the exploitation of system vulnerabilities.

11 Most Common Types of Cyber Attacks

As businesses become more interconnected through digital platforms and global supply chains, their vulnerability to cyber threats intensifies. To truly secure your organization, it’s critical to understand the most common attacks that put modern businesses at risk.

1. Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Attacks

A Distributed Denial-of-Service attack (DDoS) aims to overwhelm a targeted system by sending massive amounts of traffic all at once. The sudden surge can slow down or completely shut off access to websites, online platforms, or cloud services. These disruptions often prevent real users from accessing the resources they need.

Unlike attacks that focus on stealing sensitive data, DDoS attacks are designed to interrupt services. Still, they can lead to serious losses, including downtime, damaged reputation, and lost revenue. Strong security measures, like traffic filtering and real-time monitoring, are essential to minimize the impact.

2. Malware

Malware, short for malicious software, is a form of malicious code designed to infiltrate systems without user consent. After breaching the system, it may slow down devices, monitor user behavior, or make important files inaccessible. Some forms are programmed to corrupt data, while others aim to create hidden access points for future attacks.

Malware spreads through infected websites, software downloads, and sometimes a simple email attachment. Organizations that fail to track system activity or keep software updated may remain unaware that an attack has occurred. This delay increases the chance of undetected suspicious activity. Effective detection and response tools can help reduce damage and limit how far the infection spreads.

3. Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks trick people into revealing confidential information by disguising messages as legitimate requests. These often arrive via email, posing as messages from trusted sources such as banks, coworkers, or service providers. Victims are encouraged to click a link or download an email attachment, leading to compromised login details or infected devices.

This type of attack is a form of social engineering attack. It doesn’t rely on technical vulnerabilities but rather on human error. Many phishing attempts are now highly targeted, customized to the recipient, and even reference real business operations or social media activity.

4. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attack

A Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attack happens when a third party secretly intercepts communication between two trusted sources. The victim believes they’re talking directly to a website, an app, or another person, but in reality, someone is silently listening or altering the exchange.

Attackers often use this method to capture credit card details, login credentials, or private messages. These attacks are especially common on unsecured public networks. Sometimes, they involve fake websites or hijacked sessions that are almost impossible to spot.

5. SQL Injection Attacks

SQL injection attacks attacks exploit the way websites handle user input when interacting with databases. Instead of entering expected information into a form or search field, attackers insert harmful commands designed to manipulate the database behind the scenes.

When input isn’t properly checked, the system may execute these commands, giving the attacker access to data they shouldn’t see. In more severe cases, they can alter records, delete important content, or take full control of the database. Some attackers gain administrator privileges with nothing more than a few lines of text.

6. Ransomware

A ransomware attack involves malicious software that locks files or entire systems, demanding payment to restore access. The malware typically encrypts documents, databases, and backups, leaving victims unable to retrieve their data without a decryption key.

These attacks are especially dangerous in industries that rely heavily on digital operations. Cyber criminals often target healthcare systems, government agencies, and energy providers, where disruption can cause serious consequences. Paying the ransom doesn’t ensure full data recovery. At the same time, extended downtime and damaged reputation can have long-term consequences.

7. Command Injection

Command injection attacks exploit applications that pass unfiltered user input to a system shell or command-line interface. If the input is not properly sanitized, attackers can execute arbitrary commands directly on the underlying server.

These attacks may allow unauthorized access to files, system configurations, or broader network resources. They often occur in web applications that run backend scripts or automation tools using user-provided data. Injected commands often run with the same privileges as the application itself. This can lead to serious damage, particularly if the system lacks strong access controls.

8. Domain Name Server (DNS) Hijacking

DNS hijacking happens when attackers interfere with the process that translates domain names into IP addresses. By tampering with the Domain Name System, often referred to as the internet’s “phonebook,” attackers can secretly redirect users to harmful websites.

These attacks come in several forms. In some cases, malware alters DNS settings on a victim’s device. In other cases, hackers exploit weak passwords or hijack expired domain names. The consequences can be severe. Victims may be redirected to phishing sites, install malware unknowingly, or lose access to essential services like email and websites.

9. Remote File Inclusion (RFI)

Remote File Inclusion (RFI) exploits flaws in web applications that load external files dynamically. Attackers manipulate file references to insert harmful content, such as malware or backdoor shells, from a remote server.

This vulnerability allows unauthorized code to run within the target system, potentially leading to full compromise. Since these files originate from external sources, detecting and blocking them is difficult without strong security protocols.

10. Credential Stuffing

Credential stuffing is a cyber attack where attackers use stolen login details to break into user accounts across multiple platforms. Since many people reuse the same login details across multiple sites, attackers automate the process, trying these credentials on various platforms.

Attackers rely on automated tools to test stolen credentials at scale. A successful attempt can lead to data theft, fraudulent charges, or full control of the compromised account.

11. Dictionary Attack

A dictionary attack is a technique used to crack passwords by systematically entering every word in a predefined list, often common words, phrases, or leaked passwords. Unlike random guessing, this method targets predictable or simple passwords, making it highly effective against weak credentials.

Attackers use specialized tools to automate the process, testing thousands of possibilities in minutes. The success of a dictionary attack largely depends on password complexity.

Top Industries Most at Risk from Cyber Threats

Certain industries are more attractive attack targets for cybercriminals due to the sensitive and valuable data they handle, their reliance on interconnected systems, or the high impact of a disruption. The industries most vulnerable to cyber attacks include:

• Manufacturing
• Finance and insurance
• Healthcare
• Government
• Energy
• Education

Manufacturing

According to IBM’s 2025 Threat Intelligence Index, the manufacturing industry remains the top global target for cyber attacks. In 2024, the industry experienced significant levels of extortion (29%) and data theft (24%). Many of these attacks are aimed at operational disruption or attempts to steal data directly from production systems.

Moreover, threat actors are using legitimate-looking cloud services to disguise their actions, thereby blending their malicious activities into routine traffic and evading detection. This method of data exfiltration not only makes it difficult for security teams to identify threats but also escalates the frequency and sophistication of attacks on the sector. As manufacturing systems manufacturing systems become more reliant on digital infrastructure, the risk of targeted cyberattacks continues to rise, with attackers increasingly focused on operational disruption and stealing valuable intellectual property.

Finance and Insurance

Among all major industries, the financial sector stands out as the most exposed to AI-powered cyber threats. A recent Deep Instinct survey found that 45% of financial firms had faced such attacks over the past year— the highest rate among all industries. These threats are characterized by their reliance on tools like deepfakes, AI-generated phishing schemes, and intelligent malware to impersonate individuals and bypass traditional defenses.

With vast networks of consumer and corporate clients, financial institutions present attractive, high-value targets for cyber criminals looking to exploit trust and automation. The widespread availability of AI tools is making these attacks more advanced, allowing even low-level threat actors to launch sophisticated and highly convincing campaigns that exploit trust and automation.

Healthcare

Cyberattacks on the healthcare industry are on the rise, making it one of the most targeted sectors. Groups like BianLian and INC Ransomware continue to target hospitals, despite earlier claims to avoid nonprofit healthcare providers.

What makes healthcare so vulnerable is its limited tolerance for downtime. With everything from patient records to critical care equipment controlled by these systems, any interruption can directly endanger lives. This pressure often leaves hospitals with no choice but to pay the ransom to get their essential operations back online.

Government

Government agencies hold a treasure trove of confidential information, including fingerprints, Social Security numbers, and more. Government servers and databases, unfortunately, have known vulnerabilities, resulting in larger amounts and volumes of attacks in recent years.

Recent findings from the Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2024 reveal a growing threat to government systems. The attacks are often motivated by the desire to steal intelligence, disrupt essential services, or manipulate political narratives. Given that government systems manage critical data and public operations, even brief security breaches can lead to significant and far-reaching consequences.

Energy

Energy networks, being vital to national infrastructure, are highly susceptible to cyber attacks, as demonstrated by numerous recent reports. Hackers can cause widespread power outages, undermining critical security and defense infrastructure, and endangering millions of citizens.

Because hackers can gain control from close range or from long distances, they have the ability to access nuclear facilities, power grids, and power generation facilities around the world. Natural gas pipelines in both the U.S. and Canada are regularly targeted, and researchers in Oklahoma discovered that their wind-turbine facility could be hacked in less than one minute through a single lock on the door to gain access to their servers.

Education

In 2024, the education and research sector faced more cyberattacks than any other industry. Institutions in this category experienced a significant rise in cyber attacks compared to the previous year. This surge is driven by the sector’s large digital footprint, decentralized IT systems, and the sensitive nature of student, faculty, and research data.

Schools and universities often operate with limited cybersecurity budgets and a wide range of users, making them appealing targets for cybercriminals. Most breaches stem from external actors aiming for financial gain, often through system intrusion or social engineering. Without stronger protection measures, educational institutions will likely remain a top target in the evolving threat landscape.

Addressing the Issue of Cybercrime

In the constant battle against cyber threats, a company’s greatest asset is often its people. Regular employee training on how to identify phishing emails, malicious software, and social engineering is an essential first line of defense. By empowering your team with this knowledge, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of a successful attack.

However, as cyber threats continue to evolve, a comprehensive and adaptive security solution is essential.

To effectively counter emerging threats, Organizations must complement human vigilance with professional tools and teams designed to counter evolving risks. CDNetworks provides this crucial layer of defense, offering scalable protection to ensure websites, applications, and APIs remain secure. With a multi-layered defense strategy, organizations can stay ahead of cybercriminals and maintain a proactive security posture.

Ready to build truly resilient security? Contact our sales team for a personalized consultation or apply for a free trial to see our multi-layered defense in action.