Hacktivism Flashcards
List down the most common attack methods used by hacktivists.
DoS, DDoS, website defacement, data breaches, malware, social engineering, phishing and insider threats.
Interpret how hacktivists would use website defacement to attack a government agency’s website.
Hacktivists may use website defacement as a form of protest or to draw attention to a particular cause or issue. If a government agency’s website is targeted, hacktivists may use website defacement to display their message or agenda. This could involve replacing the homepage or other pages of the website with their own content, such as political messages, images, or videos.
By defacing a government agency’s website, hacktivists may be attempting to publicly embarrass or discredit the agency. They may be protesting against a particular policy or action of the agency, or they may be attempting to draw attention to a particular issue or cause. The website defacement could also be intended to disrupt the agency’s operations or damage its reputation.
Assess the impact of a DDoS attack by hacktivists on a social networking website.
A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack by hacktivists on a social networking website can have a significant impact on the website and its users.
A DDoS attack involves overwhelming a website or web application with a large volume of traffic from multiple sources, making it unavailable to legitimate users. Hacktivists may launch a DDoS attack on a social networking website to protest against a particular issue, policy, or action by the website or its owners.
The impact of a DDoS attack by hacktivists on a social networking website can include:
Website downtime: The website may become unavailable to legitimate users, causing frustration and inconvenience.
Loss of revenue: The website may lose revenue due to downtime or the inability to serve ads or conduct transactions.
Reputation damage: The website’s reputation may be damaged due to the perceived lack of security and reliability.
User data compromise: A DDoS attack may be used as a distraction while the attackers attempt to steal user data or install malware.
Increased security costs: The website may need to invest in additional security measures to prevent future attacks.
Contrast between social engineering and phishing.
The main differences between social engineering and phishing are:
Scope: Social engineering is a broad term that includes a range of techniques for manipulating individuals, whereas phishing is a specific type of social engineering attack that involves sending fraudulent emails or messages.
Method: Social engineering attacks may be carried out in person, over the phone, or through electronic communication, whereas phishing attacks typically rely on email or messaging platforms.
Goal: The goal of social engineering attacks is to manipulate individuals to divulge confidential information or perform actions that are not in their best interest, whereas the goal of phishing attacks is to obtain sensitive information, such as login credentials or financial data.
Design a mitigation strategy for a web defacement attack by hacktivists on an online store website.
To mitigate the impact of such an attack, a comprehensive strategy can be developed that includes the following steps:
Detect the attack: The first step in mitigating a web defacement attack is to detect it as early as possible. This can be done by monitoring the website for any changes or suspicious activities. Tools like website monitoring software, intrusion detection systems, and log analysis tools can help detect such attacks.
Isolate the affected systems: Once the attack is detected, it is important to isolate the affected systems to prevent further damage. This can be done by disconnecting the affected servers from the network, disabling the compromised accounts, and changing all the passwords.
Recover the website: After isolating the affected systems, the website needs to be restored to its original state. This can be done by restoring the website from a backup, verifying the integrity of the backup, and updating the website software to the latest version.
Investigate the attack: It is important to investigate the attack to identify the vulnerabilities that were exploited and to determine the extent of the damage. This can be done by analyzing the logs, reviewing the code changes, and conducting a vulnerability assessment.
Implement security measures: Based on the results of the investigation, security measures can be implemented to prevent future attacks. This can include installing security patches, upgrading software, improving access control, and training employees on cybersecurity best practices.
Communicate with stakeholders: It is important to communicate with stakeholders, including customers, partners, and suppliers, about the attack and the steps taken to mitigate it. This can help to rebuild trust and mitigate any damage to the reputation of the online store.
