Introduction

In an active attack, the attacker obstructs the connection and efforts to alter the message’s content. It is unsafe for the integrity and availability of the message. Active attacks involve deception, message amendment, replay, and denial of service—alteration of the system resources due to active attacks. Thus, the damage caused by active attacks can destroy the system and its resources.

The main objective of an active attack is to interfere with how your network performs its operations by either modifying the target data or introducing new data into your system or device. The hacker will try to manipulate data to harm the target’s computer network system.

What is a Security Attack?

Security attacks endanger the system’s security. These are the unsanctioned or prohibited actions that are carried out against the government, corporate, or private IT assets to destroy, modify, or steal profound data. Classification of such attacks is known as active & passive attacks, where the attacker gets unlawful access to the system’s resources.

Why is it Important to Detect Active Attacks?

Our information is stored on drives and electronic devices connected to the cloud, so our systems are not fully secured. Hence, preventative measures against active attacks are complex as network systems have more potential vulnerabilities.

To take effectual preventative measures, one needs to understand how active attacks work and what damage they can do to the system. Moreover, shockingly, statistics show that enterprises worldwide will lose up to $10.5 trillion annually by 2025 due to cybercrime; this was $3 trillion in 2015.

How Does an Active Attack Work?

In this attack, the attacker attempts to adapt or disrupt the system or network’s operations by administering malicious traffic or executing unauthorized commands. Once done, it will be risky to the integrity & availability of a system or network.

It can compromise the data integrity and diminish the availability of system resources, leading to noteworthy damage and financial loss for the targeted organization. As the victim gets notified in the case of an Active Attack, prevention of such is possible by using some techniques as listed below:

  • Using a one-time password helps validate the transactions between two parties.
  • Generating a random session key valid only for a single transaction could prevent the malicious operator from retransmitting the actual information once the session ends.

Types of Active Attacks:

Active attacks can take many forms, including:

  • Distributed Denial of Service Attack
  • Masquerade Attack
  • Session Hijacking
  • Replay Attack
  • Message Modification Attack
  • Trojans

Protection Method from Active Attack:

As one learns about what an Active Attack looks like, the next step must be to ensure that the system & devices are safe from such attacks. To counter such attacks, one needs to have possible countermeasures in place. Such as follows:

  • Firewalls
  • IPS
  • Random Session Keys
  • OTP’s
  • Kerberos Authentication Protocol

Conclusion

Eventually, active attacks in cyber security signify a critical & evolving threat setting in our increasingly digital world. These malicious activities, such as malware infections, DDoS attacks & phishing attempts, are launched to breach, disrupt, or compromise computer systems, networks, and sensitive data.

Active attacks often exploit vulnerabilities in software, human error, or weak security measures. As technology advances, simultaneously, so do the tactics and sophistication of these attacks, making it imperative for organizations and individuals to strengthen their cyber security defenses continually.

Vigilance, regular updates, employee training, and proactive security measures are crucial in mitigating the risks of active cyber-attacks and safeguarding digital assets.