What Does Mode of Attack Mean?
A mode of attack is a method by which hackers seek to access a system. Hackers exploit system vulnerabilities in order to damage data or interrupt computer functions through code manipulation or by injecting new malicious code.
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Modes of attack include:
- Email attachments
- Buffer overflow
- Security software
- Updating processes and associated software
- SQL vulnerabilities
- Network protection software
There are many other modes of attack, but these are the most potentially destructive.
A mode of attack may also be called a method of attack.
Techopedia Explains Mode of Attack
The following are historical examples of damaging viruses and their modes of attack:
- Morris 1988: Exploited email client flaws in Unix Sendmail.
- Melissa 1999: Forced the shutdown of email gateways by generating excess traffic.
- VBS/Loveletter 2000: Exploited email address lists and sent large numbers of messages.
- Code Red 2001: Exploited a buffer overflow and damaged connectivity.
- Nimda 2001: Generated masses of email to transmit itself, lured users to an infected website and exploited issues with security software.
- SQL Slammer 2003: Exploited buffer-overflow bug and distributed copies of itself worldwide, causing service denials and Internet slowdown.
- MS Blaster 2003: Exploited MS windowsupdate.com, causing major denial-of-service attacks and forcing computer restarts for banks, city governments and thousands of home and corporate users.
- MyDoom 2004: A virus spread via email attachment. The virus spread when the attachment was opened and exploited address book lists. It also exploited the Kazaa file-sharing service.
- Sasser 2004: Exploited buffer-overflow and affected transportation. Delta canceled 40 trans-Atlantic flights and Australian trains were forced to halt operations.
- Witty 2004: Exploited network vulnerabilities by attacking network-protection software. It overwrote hard disks, rendering them unusable.
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