Network Attacks: Overview of Common Threats 🌐🔒

Understanding various network attacks is crucial for maintaining cybersecurity. Here’s a detailed look at some common network attacks and their impacts:

1. DNS Cache Poisoning 🧪🔄

• Definition: An attack where fake DNS records are injected into a DNS server’s cache, causing it to resolve domain names to malicious IP addresses.

• Impact: Users are redirected to compromised servers, which can host malicious software or steal sensitive information.

• Real-World Example: In Brazil, attackers poisoned DNS caches of local ISPs, redirecting users to fake sites that installed a banking trojan designed to steal credentials.

2. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attack 🕵️‍♂️🔍

• Definition: An attacker intercepts and possibly alters communication between two hosts who believe they are communicating directly with each other.

• Types:

  • Session Hijacking: An attacker steals a session token to impersonate a user on a website, gaining unauthorized access.

  • Rogue Access Point: An unauthorized wireless access point is set up within a network, allowing attackers to intercept network traffic.

  • Evil Twin: An attacker creates a network with the same name as a legitimate network to trick users into connecting to it. The attacker then monitors or intercepts the traffic.

Key Points ✔️

• DNS Cache Poisoning: Redirects users to malicious sites by corrupting DNS records.

• Man-in-the-Middle Attacks: Includes session hijacking, rogue access points, and Evil Twin attacks, all of which involve intercepting and possibly manipulating communications.

• Prevention: Regularly update and monitor network security measures to prevent these attacks and ensure data integrity.

Understanding and defending against these attacks are essential for protecting network resources and sensitive information. 🛡️🔐