Cross-site request forgery, commonly shortened to CSRF or XSRF, is a web attack that tricks an authenticated user’s browser into sending an unwanted request to a trusted website. The attacker does not necessarily steal the user’s password or directly take control of the account. Instead, the attack abuses the fact that the browser may automatically include the user’s active session cookie or other authentication information with a request. If the targeted website cannot distinguish a legitimate request from a forged one, it may perform the attacker’s chosen action as though the user intentionally requested it. A successful CSRF attack could…
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SQL injection, commonly shortened to SQLi, is a web security vulnerability that allows an attacker to interfere with the database queries made by an application. It happens when software treats untrusted user input as part of a database command instead of handling it only as data. A vulnerable application may allow an attacker to view confidential records, bypass authentication, change stored information, delete data, or perform administrative actions. In severe cases, SQL injection can compromise an entire website and the database behind it. SQL injection is not limited to old websites. Any application that builds unsafe database queries from user-controlled…
A brute-force attack is a cyberattack in which someone repeatedly tries different passwords, encryption keys, PINs, or login combinations until the correct one is found. Instead of exploiting a complicated technical flaw, the attacker relies on persistence, automation, and computing power. You can think of it as trying every possible key until one opens the lock. A person could perform a few guesses manually, but modern brute-force attacks are usually automated. Specialized software can test large numbers of combinations much faster than a human. Short passwords, reused credentials, exposed login pages, default administrator accounts, and systems without login limits are…
A man-in-the-middle attack is a cyberattack in which a criminal secretly places themselves between two communicating parties. The attacker may monitor the conversation, steal information, impersonate either party, or alter the data being exchanged. For example, you may believe you are communicating directly with your bank’s website while an attacker is intercepting the connection. Any passwords, payment details, messages, or account information you submit could pass through the attacker’s system first. The attack is commonly abbreviated as MitM. It is also increasingly called a manipulator-in-the-middle, machine-in-the-middle, or on-path attack. How Does a Man-in-the-Middle Attack Work? A MitM attack normally has…
Every password, private message, search query, and payment number entered through a keyboard creates valuable information. A keylogger is designed to capture that information by recording what a person types. Some keystroke-recording tools have legitimate uses, such as authorized troubleshooting, accessibility, or clearly disclosed monitoring on company-owned equipment. A malicious keylogger, however, operates without meaningful permission and sends sensitive information to an attacker. Because keyloggers usually work silently, the victim may not notice anything unusual until an account is compromised or money disappears. What Is a Keylogger? A keylogger, also called a keystroke logger, is software or hardware that records…
A website may go offline even when its server has not been hacked and no information has been stolen. Sometimes the problem is simply that the system is being flooded with more traffic or requests than it can handle. When that traffic comes from many devices working together, the incident is known as a distributed denial-of-service attack, or DDoS attack. DDoS attacks target availability. Their main purpose is to prevent legitimate users from reaching a website, application, network, game server, or online service. The disruption may last for minutes, hours, or longer and can create financial, operational, and reputational damage.…
A device begins running slowly. The browser opens unfamiliar pages. Files suddenly become inaccessible, or advertisements appear even when no website is open. These problems may have an ordinary explanation—but they can also be signs of malware. Malware is not one specific program. It is a broad name for harmful software created to steal information, damage files, spy on activity, take control of a device, or disrupt an organization. Cybercriminals spread malware through phishing messages, unsafe downloads, fake updates, malicious advertisements, compromised websites, cracked software, infected storage devices, and weaknesses in outdated systems. Understanding what malware is, how different types…
Phishing is one of the most common ways criminals steal passwords, financial details, and personal information online. It does not normally begin with sophisticated hacking. Instead, the attacker sends a convincing message and waits for someone to click, reply, download a file, or enter information on a fake website. A phishing attempt may look like an email from your bank, a delivery update, a password-reset warning, or a message from someone you know. The design can appear professional, the sender’s name may seem familiar, and the situation may feel urgent. That sense of trust and urgency is exactly what makes…
Ransomware can turn an ordinary day into a serious digital emergency. One moment your computer is working normally; the next, important documents, photographs, business records, or entire systems are inaccessible. A message then appears demanding money in exchange for restoring access. This type of attack affects individuals, small businesses, hospitals, schools, government departments, and international companies. Modern ransomware attacks may do more than encrypt files. Criminals can steal private information before locking the system and threaten to publish it if the victim refuses to pay. Understanding how ransomware enters a device, and what to do when an attack occurs—can reduce…
Spyware is designed to watch quietly. Unlike ransomware, which announces an attack by locking files, spyware often tries to remain invisible for as long as possible. It can monitor browsing activity, collect passwords, record keystrokes, track a phone’s location, or send private information to someone else without the owner’s informed permission. Some spyware arrives through malicious downloads and fraudulent links. Other programs are installed by someone with physical access to the device. Even applications that appear useful can contain hidden tracking features or collect far more information than a user expects. Because spyware works in the background, recognizing its warning…