The internet introduced us to the new digital world. Any illusion that the internet would be safe and free from threats was shattered, however, in 1988 with the introduction of the Morris Worm. In the 30-plus years since that time, exploits and cyber attacks have become increasingly more prevalent. Major brands have been victims of hacks and exploits. Data breaches like Target, Sony, and Equifax have made headlines around the world and put a spotlight on the importance of cybersecurity.
Hacking is generally perceived as malicious, but it can also be described as simply exploiting a technological weakness or disadvantage. The rapid increase in our use of and dependence on technology has increased our vulnerability to getting hacked. Whether you’re shopping on Amazon, emailing family or friends, or paying bills online, it’s relatively easy for your device to get hacked if you don’t follow basic cybersecurity best practices like using a strong password.
When a cybercriminal is trying to hack into an organization or compromise your personal PC, the most common strategies include:
- Phishing attacks
- Cross-site scripting (XSS)
- Malware attacks
- Whaling phishing attacks
- Denial-of-Service (DoS or DDoS)
- SQL Injection Attacks (SQLi)
Even though these techniques are common, they are still generally effective. However, there are some shocking cybersecurity hacks that have shaken the world because of the innovative strategy used by the cybercriminals. Here is a look at some of the most unusual cybersecurity attacks.
1. Impersonation
If you want to be a successful cybercriminal, you have to be very creative. It is not uncommon for cybercriminals to use social engineering or impersonate others. In one attack, a cybercriminal impersonated a bank CEO. The criminal was able to convince an employee at the bank to change all the information of the CEO with that of the hacker. After several months of the CEO not receiving any salary, the bank realized that they had been hacked. You have to admit, it’s quite funny while still scary at the same time.
2. The Nightmare
In another story, a hacker caused a lot of chaos in a hotel. The attacker used hacking tools to bypass electronic doors in the hotel. Some customers were convinced that they were being haunted and the hotel went into a frenzy. The hacker used these tools and techniques to get into hotel rooms. Although the burglar was caught, it proved the vulnerability of electronic doors. So you have to be careful every time you go to a hotel—you never know who might walk in.
3. The real video camera
A very creative hacker installed a video camera inside a concrete wall. The software of the camera was used to override the company’s firewall. The hackers were able to poison the company’s IT systems and were able to access the systems remotely. The hackers were able to gain access to email, messages and even passwords of the employees. This all began with a simple video camera which was installed in the wall of an entrance.
There will always be innovative and insidious new attack techniques that come along. You can’t possibly defend against them all. But, if you just follow basic cybersecurity best practices, you can successfully avoid or defend against the vast majority of the malware and exploits out there.
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