Put simply, a hacking attack is a cyberattack which targets computer information systems, computer networks, infrastructures, personal computer devices, smartphones, and/or the people using them, to gain unauthorised access to the systems and data they contain. Typically, these criminals are looking to exploit an attack for financial gain, but in other cases the aim is to disrupt operations by disabling access to IT systems.
Threat actors can be anyone, ranging from a single person attempting to obtain stolen credentials and hold them for ransom, or organised criminal gangs looking to steal money, assets or data, through to a state-sponsored contingent looking to disrupt operations on foreign soil.
Whatever the motivations of the parties involved, to effectively prevent a hacking attack, you need to understand the stages involved and how a hacker operates to undermine your systems. Unfortunately detection isn’t always easy, as many attacks rely on stealth tactics that enable actions to be carried out covertly without any disruption or obvious red flags. However, the earlier you can detect a potential attack and put measures in place to defend your systems, the harder it is for a hacker to be successful.