You Should Know – The Life Cycle of a Cyber Attack

You Should Know what a cyber attack looks like.

Understanding how these attacks unfold is key to protecting yourself and your organization. Here's a simple breakdown of the typical life cycle of a cyber attack.

Reconnaissance

Crafting the Attack 

Delivery

Exploitation

Installation

Command and Control

Execution of Goals

Stay Alert. Stay Safe.

Reconnaissance:

The attacker starts by gathering information. They search public websites, social media, and other open sources to learn about their target – this is called Open Source Intelligence Gathering. The more they know, the more convincing their attack can be.

Crafting the Attack:  

Once they have the information, the attacker builds the trap. Common tricks include:

• Urgent language (e.g., "Your account will be closed!")

• Spoofed email addresses that look legitimate

• Infected attachments (like PDFs or Word docs)

• Links that lead to malicious websites

Delivery:

The attack reaches you through everyday channels like:

• Email

• Social media

• Text messages (SMS)

• Phone calls (voice phishing or "vishing")

Exploitation:

This is when the attack is triggered. The victim might:

• Open the message

• Click the bad link

• Download or open an infected file

This action activates the malicious software – often without the victim even realizing it.

Installation:

The malware installs itself on the victim’s device. This gives the attacker long-term access, allowing them to return later without being detected.

Command and Control:

Now the attacker is in. They can:

• Communicate with the infected system remotely

• Steal files and sensitive data

• Capture keystrokes (including passwords)

• Gain access to higher-level system controls

Execution of Goals:

Finally, the attacker achieves what they came for:

• Demands a ransom to unlock your files

• Steals sensitive data like personal info, financial records, or intellectual property

 Recognizing these stages helps you stop an attack before it starts. When something feels off – whether it’s an odd email or an urgent request – pause and think before you click.

Contact us at Sales@securicom.co.za to see how we can change the way you see security.