Digital Threats and Cyberattacks at the Network Level

Types of Network Attacks

Network-level attacks can be either passive or active. In a passive attack, malicious agents gain unauthorized network access and steal sensitive data without altering it. They simply want to use their theft to profit by accessing client accounts or selling information to other bad actors.

An active network attack, in contrast, is a bit more like vandalizing a building. In an active network attack, the attacker gains access to a network and modifies or damages the data stored there—for example, by deleting or encrypting it.

Network-level attacks differ from other types of software- and hardware-related attacks. Malicious hackers executing network attacks often aim to gain access to an organization’s network perimeter and thereby its internal systems.

Once they have this access, they can launch other types of attacks. These digital threats include: