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259 
Type of cyber attack 
Description 
Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack 
The cyber-attacker attempts to disrupt an 
organisation's online activities by preventing 
people from accessing the organisation's website. 
Botnets (large numbers of individual computers 
which have been taken over without the user 
knowing) are instructed to overwhelm the 
organisation's website with a wave of internet 
traffic so that the system is unable to handle it and 
may cause it to crash. 
Webcam manager 
The cyber-attacker uses software to take control of 
the user's webcam. 
File hijacker/ransomware 
The cyber-attacker gains access to the user’s 
system to hijack their files and hold them to 
ransom 
Keylogging 
The cyber-attacker plants software onto the user’s 
computer to record what the user types onto their 
keyboard. The objective is to learn passwords and 
user details to gain access to confidential 
information. 
Screenshot manager 
The cyber-attacker obtains information from the 
victim by installing software onto the user’s 
computer to enable screenshots of the user's 
computer screen to be taken. Like other cyber-
attacks, the purpose can be to steal information, 
funds, or may even be to perform corporate 
espionage. 
Ad clicker 
The cyber-attacker directs the victim's computer to 
a bogus website by encouraging them to click on a 
specific link contained in online advertising. 
Several types of cyber-attack, such as webcam manager, keylogging and screenshot manager rely on the 
cyber-attacker installing software onto the victim’s computer. This is often achieved through the use of 
Trojans. A 
Trojan
is a software program that masquerades as a desirable application, eg a virus 
checker, which the victim is happy to download and install.
6.4.3 Cyber security methods 
The table below contains some common cyber security methods used by organisations.