Understanding Network-Based Cyber Attacks and How to Prevent Them

by Thaís Lima

As technology keeps growing, network-based cyber attacks have become a serious problem for organizations everywhere. When started studying Information Technology, I didn’t realize how many different ways attackers can invade or damage a network. Now I understand that companies need to protect not only their computers, but the entire system that connects them. In this It will explain three common types of network-based attacks, how they can affect organizations, and some best practices to reduce the risks.

1. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks

A DDoS attack happens when hackers flood a server or network with too much traffic, so the system becomes slow or stops working. It’s like too many people trying to enter a small store at the same time, nobody can move inside. In 2023, Cloudflare reported one of the largest DDoS attacks ever, reaching more than 71 million requests per second (Cloudflare, 2023).

The impact of a DDoS attack can be huge. For businesses that sell online, every minute offline means lost money and frustrated customers. It can also hurt the company’s reputation because users lose trust when websites or services stop working.

To reduce this risk, organizations can use content delivery networks (CDNs) and firewalls that filter bad traffic before it reaches the main server. Cloudflare and Google, for example, have strong DDoS protection systems that help many companies stay online during attacks. Another best practice is to monitor network traffic constantly so teams can detect strange patterns early and respond fast.

2. Phishing and Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks

Another common attack happens when hackers try to steal information by pretending to be someone else. A phishing attack uses fake emails or messages that look real to trick users into giving personal data or passwords. A Man-in-the-Middle attack goes even further, hackers secretly intercept the communication between two parties, like when a person connects to public Wi-Fi at a café and someone captures the data sent.

In 2024, there was a large phishing campaign that targeted Microsoft 365 users by sending fake login alerts. Many employees entered their credentials on fake sites, giving hackers access to company emails and files (Microsoft Security, 2024).

The best way to prevent these attacks is through employee training and multi-factor authentication (MFA). When people know how to identify suspicious links, they are less likely to fall for them. MFA adds another layer of security, asking for a code or confirmation before access. Companies like Microsoft and Google use these protections widely and have seen a big reduction in successful phishing attempts.

3. Ransomware Attacks

Ransomware is one of the most dangerous network-based attacks. It happens when hackers encrypt a company’s data and demand money (a ransom) to unlock it. In 2024, a major ransomware group called LockBit attacked financial and government systems in several countries, causing millions in losses (IBM Security, 2024).

For organizations, ransomware can destroy operations for days or even weeks. The loss is not just financial, it also affects customer trust and the company’s public image.

To protect against ransomware, organizations should make regular backups, update software, and limit user permissions so only authorized staff can access critical systems. Many companies now use zero-trust models, which means nobody automatically has full access, every connection must be verified. After recent attacks, hospitals and public services have started adopting this approach to keep patient and citizen data safe.

Final Thoughts

Learning about these attacks helped me realize that cybersecurity is not just technical, it’s about responsibility and teamwork. Understanding threats like DDoS, phishing, and ransomware shows why strong protection and awareness are so important for every business today. As a student still learning about IT, I see that even basic actions like using MFA or keeping systems updated can make a big difference.