Emerging Cyber-Attacks

This chapter is focused on emerging cyber-attacksCyber-attacks, in which the recent global trend is reviewed and details of the most prominent issues are covered followed by the details of emerging ransomwareRansomware, botnetBotnet attacks, and cryptojackingCryptojacking technologies. In the first section, the most recent trends in advanced cyber-attacks are introduced, where the leading cyber-attack types and initial access infection techniques are the main focus. In addition, the global distribution and industry types that receive the most cyber-attacks are described. The second section focuses on ransomware, which currently is the most abundant and influential type of cyber-attack in the world. Details of ransomware history and classifications are introduced followed by ransomware attack procedures and examples based on Emotet and Trickbot are provided. In the third section, botnet attacks using Internet of Things (IoT) devices are introduced. Botnet centralized and distributed operational structures are introduced followed by a description of the two most representative IoT botnets Mirai and Mozi is provided. The fourth section focuses on cryptojacking, which is a malware based cyber-attack on blockchains, cryptocurrencies (e.g., Bitcoin (BTC)), and smart contracts (e.g., Ethereum (ETH)). In addition, cryptojacking defense strategies are introduced. The understanding of this chapter can be enhanced by the other chapters of this book that explain the details of the Internet, TCP/IP operations, cryptography, hashing, blockchains, Bitcoin, and Ethereum.