Successful Cyberattack Vectors: Common Threats and How to Stop Them

Cyberattack vectors are the methods that criminals use to infiltrate IT systems, steal data, or disrupt operations. These cover a wide range of evolving techniques that are growing more sophisticated by the day.

Understanding these attack vectors is an essential step toward making informed decisions to protect your organization from costly breaches, operational downtime and reputational harm.

Having the right security tools is of course a key part of this. However, technology is only as effective as the strategy behind your cybersecurity defense plan. Knowing how attackers get in – and what they’re after – empowers organizations to take smarter, more proactive steps to protect their most valuable assets.

So what do you need to know about the most common cyberattack vectors businesses face, and what steps should you take to protect against these cyberthreats and strengthen your cybersecurity posture?

Firms need to start by ensuring they understand the specific methods attackers use to breach systems. While new threat vectors, such as AI-driven brute force attacks, emerge regularly, most successful cyberattacks fall into a handful of well-established categories. 

Each of these exploits different weaknesses in people, processes, or technology. Knowing where these vulnerabilities lie and what warning signs to look out for is a key step in developing an effective defense strategy.

Phishing attacks are one of the most common causes of data breaches. This consists of deceptive attempts by cybercriminals to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information, such as login credentials or financial details, by masquerading as trustworthy entities. 

These attacks most often arrive via mass emails, appearing to be from legitimate sources like banks or colleagues, and may contain malicious links or attachments. However, voice phishing (vishing), SMS phishing (smishing) and spear phishing (attacks tailored to a specific individual) are common variants.

According to one study by Egress, 94 percent of organizations fell victim to phishing attacks in 2024, with 96 percent suffering negative consequences as a result. What’s more, in 2025, technology such as AI can be used by cybercriminals to make these messages more personal and convincing.

To mitigate the risk of phishing, consider the following steps:

• Focus on Employee Education: Regular training sessions can equip staff with the skills to identify and report phishing attempts. Interactive methods, such as role-playing and group discussions, have been shown to enhance awareness and response to phishing threats.
• Use Email Filtering Tools: Advanced email security solutions can help detect and block phishing emails before they reach employees’ inboxes. These tools analyze email content and sender information to identify potential threats.​
• Conduct Regular Phishing Tests: Simulated phishing exercises allow organizations to assess employee readiness and reinforce training. These tests involve sending fake phishing emails to individuals to see how they react. Response rates can indicate where more training is required.

Malware (short for malicious software) encompasses a range of attacks designed to infiltrate systems, steal data, or disrupt operations. Among its most damaging forms is ransomware, which may either encrypt an organization’s files and demand payment for decryption, or exfiltrate data and threaten public release if a ransom is not paid.

Ransomware is one of the most common forms of malware infiltration, typically entering networks through phishing emails, malicious downloads, or by exploiting unpatched software vulnerabilities. Once inside, it can rapidly spread across systems, encrypting data and rendering it inaccessible.​ According to BlackFog’s research, 94 percent of ransomware attacks now exfiltrate data, making this one of the biggest threats businesses face.

To protect against malware and ransomware, the following tools are essential:

• Endpoint Protection: Advanced endpoint protection technology that offers real-time monitoring and threat detection across every potential attack surface. Solutions such as anti data exfiltration also block any attempts to steal data.
• Antivirus Software: Maintain up-to-date antivirus programs that can detect and remove known malware threats. Regular updates ensure protection against the latest threats.
• Regular Backups: A robust backup strategy allows fast recovery if data is encrypted or deleted. Consider the 3-2-1 rule: keep three copies of your data, on two different media, with one off-site. Backups should be tested regularly to ensure data can be restored in the event of an attack.

Social engineering refers to a broad range of manipulative tactics used by cybercriminals to exploit human behavior rather than technical vulnerabilities. While phishing is the most common form, this category also includes tactics like pretexting, baiting and tailgating, all designed to trick individuals into giving up confidential information or access.

Unlike traditional hacking, which relies on code, social engineering relies on psychology. Attackers may impersonate IT staff, executives, or vendors to gain trust and bypass security protocols. In some cases, they even use social media or phone calls to gather personal details and build convincing backstories.

Proactively defending against social engineering means preparing your people to be the first and strongest line of defense. Key steps to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks include:

• Training Sessions: Regular cybersecurity awareness training helps employees identify manipulation tactics and respond appropriately. Real-life simulations can improve recognition of suspicious behavior.
• Clear Security Policies: Organizations must have documented, easy-to-follow policies on data protection and handling, access requests, and escalation procedures. These guidelines reduce the likelihood of staff making judgment calls under pressure.
• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Limiting access to sensitive data based on job roles ensures that even if credentials are compromised, the damage is contained. RBAC is a core principle of Zero Trust architecture and a powerful mitigation strategy.

Network vulnerabilities are flaws or misconfigurations in a system’s infrastructure that can be exploited by attackers to gain unauthorized access, disrupt services, or exfiltrate sensitive data. These weaknesses can exist in software, hardware, network protocols, or even outdated systems. They represent some of the most persistent risks to businesses today, with the most common sources of vulnerabilities including:

• Unpatched Software: Outdated applications and operating systems are among the easiest targets for cybercriminals.
• Misconfigured Firewalls or Routers: Improperly set access controls can leave internal systems exposed to external threats.
  Open Ports and Weak Protocols: Unsecured ports or reliance on outdated protocols can provide a direct line for attackers.
• Lack of Network Segmentation: Without logical divisions, attackers can move laterally through a compromised network, expanding the damage.
  

Threat actors exploit these vulnerabilities using tools and techniques such as port scanning, brute-force attacks, remote code execution (RCE), or by deploying malware via exposed entry points. Once inside, they can escalate privileges, disrupt services, or steal large volumes of data.

A particularly dangerous category is fileless attacks. These take advantage of legitimate tools such as PowerShell and can be impossible for traditional signature-based detection methods to spot.

To effectively prevent such attacks, businesses should do the following:

• Conduct Regular Vulnerability Assessments: Advanced network analysis tools or techniques like penetration testing can help identify and prioritize risks across systems and networks.
• Implement Patch Management: Develop a rigorous, automated patching schedule to quickly close security gaps caused by newly discovered vulnerabilities.
• Deploy Firewalls and Intrusion Detection Systems: These tools monitor and filter traffic, blocking suspicious or unauthorized access attempts.

Insider threats involve risks originating from individuals within an organization who have authorized access to systems and data. These can include employees, contractors, or partners. This category covers both malicious threats like deliberate data theft, as well as accidental data leaks. 

What sets insider threats apart is the inherent trust and access these individuals possess, making their actions harder to detect and potentially more damaging. According to one report by Cybersecurity Insiders, almost 83 percent of organizations have reported at least one insider attack last year, while the Ponemon Institute estimates the average cost of an insider threat incident in 2025 is $17.4 million.

To mitigate insider threats, organizations should implement the following measures:​

• Improve Access Controls: Implement RBAC to ensure individuals only access information necessary for their roles.
• Monitor Employee Behavior: Utilize User Activity Monitoring (UAM) tools to track user actions and detect anomalies.
• Minimize User Permissions: Regularly review and adjust user permissions, especially after role changes or departures, to prevent unauthorized access and ensure users cannot access data outside their key responsibilities.

“Insider threats pose one of the most significant and complex challenges to organizational cybersecurity today. Whether intentional or inadvertent, actions by insiders – employees, contractors, or partners – can have devastating consequences. To proactively mitigate these risks, BlackFog emphasizes a layered defense strategy rooted in data exfiltration prevention. By continuously monitoring outbound data traffic and applying behavioral analytics, our ADX solution can detect and block suspicious activities before sensitive information leaves the network.”

– Darren Williams, Founder & CEO, BlackFog.

The best teacher is experience. For cybersecurity pros, there are plentiful examples of real-world attacks to learn from, with the following incidents highlighting how criminals use many types of cybercrime to target the world’s biggest brands.

In 2023, attackers used voice phishing to impersonate an MGM employee and gain network access, causing major outages across hotel operations. The breach highlights the need for strong identity verification, employee training, and multi-factor authentication.

In 2023, two former Tesla employees leaked personal data of over 75,000 individuals to a media outlet, along with other sensitive corporate information. Their actions underscore the risks posed by insiders and the importance of monitoring employee behavior.

A zero-day vulnerability in Progress’ MOVEit tool was exploited by the Cl0p group, affecting over 2,700 firms and exposing data from 93.3 million individuals. The breach underscores the importance of patching, supply chain oversight, and third-party software risk management.

The 2024 ALPHV/BlackCat attack on Change Healthcare disrupted billing and pharmacy services and impacted 190 million people. Key lessons include isolating critical systems, maintaining secure backups, and deploying solutions like ADX to stop data exfiltration.

Understanding your organization’s current cybersecurity posture is essential for identifying weaknesses before attackers do. Regular security assessments provide a clear overview of the performance of your defences and where improvements are needed.

Effective evaluations start with a combination of internal audits, penetration testing and vulnerability scanning. These help uncover technical flaws, misconfigurations, and gaps in user behavior or access controls. Tools like SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) platforms, endpoint monitoring solutions and risk scoring systems offer real-time insight into a network’s current status and threat exposure.

Key metrics to track include time to detect and respond to threats, the number of unpatched vulnerabilities and the frequency of phishing clickthroughs during employee tests.

Building an effective cybersecurity action plan ensures your organization is equipped to prevent, detect, and respond to cyberthreats. Include the following cybersecurity best practices in your strategy to stand the best chance of guarding against whichever threat vectors cybercriminals use and ensuring that any cybersecurity incident response is quick and effective.

1. Identify Your Critical Assets

Undergo a full audit to identify the data, applications and systems most vital to the business. Prioritize those with high regulatory, operational, or reputational impact.

2. Conduct a Full Risk Assessment

Penetration testing, vulnerability scanning and employee phishing tests can all help uncover weaknesses across the environment.

3. Focus on the Human Element
   

Employee education is one of the best things firms can do to reduce their risk. Plan training programs focused on phishing, social engineering and secure data handling. Be sure to refresh and repeat training often.

4. Secure Your Infrastructure
   

Deploy endpoint protection, ADX technology and antivirus software across all devices. Ensure systems are patched regularly and segment networks to limit lateral movement.

5. Implement Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Follow the principle of least privilege across teams and regularly audit permissions, especially when roles change.

6. Use Continuous Monitoring

Invest in real-time threat monitoring tools and implement ADX technology to prevent data from being stolen, even if the first lines of defense have been breached.

7. Regularly Backup and Test 

Regular backups and frequent tests of recovery processes ensure firms can respond quickly to ransomware or data loss and minimize downtime.

8. Review and Adapt

All plans should be reassessed on a regular basis – ideally quarterly. Cyberthreats are constantly evolving, so defenses must too.

Want to learn more about developing an effective strategy to counter cyberattack vectors? Get in touch with BlackFog today to find out how we can help or arrange a free demo.