Mode of Attack

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.

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.