List of cyber attack threat trends

A list of cyber attack threat trends is presented in the order of sophistication which generally corresponds to the chronology of computer network used between the 1990s and 2008.

• Internet social engineering attacks
• Network sniffers
• Packet spoofing
• Session-hijacking
• Cyber-threats & bullying (not illegal in all jurisdictions)
• Automated probes and scans
• GUI intrusion tools
• Automated widespread attacks
• Widespread, distributed denial-of-service attacks
• Industrial espionage
• Executable code attacks (against browsers)
• Analysis of vulnerabilities in compiled software without source code
• Widespread attacks on DNS infrastructure
• Widespread attacks using NNTP to distribute attack
• "Stealth" and other advanced scanning techniques
• Windows-based remote access trojans (Back Orifice)
• Email propagation of malicious code
• Wide-scale trojan distribution
• Distributed attack tools
• Targeting of specific users
• Anti-forensic techniques
• Wide-scale use of worms
• Sophisticated botnet command and control attacks

References

• Lord, William T., Major General, USAF, USAF Cyberspace Command: To Fly and Fight in Cyberspace, Strategic Studies Quarterly, Fall 2008