Examples of Recent High Profile Cyber Attacks
MOVEit Data Breach
In May 2023, Progress Software's MOVEit Transfer, a widely used managed file transfer solution, was found to have a critical SQL injection vulnerability (CVE-2023-34362). This flaw was exploited by the CL0P ransomware group, also known as TA505, to deploy a web shell named LEMURLOOT on internet-facing MOVEit Transfer web applications.
The web shell enabled unauthorized access to underlying databases, leading to significant data theft. The data breach affected over 2,700 organizations and exposed the personal data of approximately 93.3 million individuals across various sectors, including healthcare, finance, and government.
Anonymous Sudan's DDoS Attacks
Since early 2023, the hacktivist group Anonymous Sudan, led by Sudanese nationals Ahmed Salah Yousif Omer and Alaa Salah Yusuuf Omer, conducted over 35,000 distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. Their targets included hospitals, government agencies, and various organizations worldwide.
Notably, in September 2023, they launched a week-long DDoS attack against Kenya's internet infrastructure, disrupting government services, banks, universities, and at least seven hospitals. In October 2024, U.S. authorities indicted the Omer brothers for their involvement in these cyberattacks.
Medusa Ransomware Campaign
The Medusa ransomware group has been active since early 2023, with a significant increase in attacks between 2023 and 2024. By early 2025, they had claimed nearly 400 victims, including organizations in critical infrastructure sectors such as medical, education, legal, insurance, technology, and manufacturing.
Medusa employs double extortion tactics, exfiltrating sensitive data before encrypting systems and demanding ransoms ranging from $100,000 to $15 million. They exploit known vulnerabilities, particularly in Microsoft Exchange Server, and use remote management tools like SimpleHelp, AnyDesk, and MeshAgent to maintain persistence within compromised networks.
Scattered Spider's Casino Hacks
In September 2023, the criminal group Scattered Spider, also known as UNC3944, targeted MGM Resorts International. They used social engineering tactics, including phishing and vishing, to gain unauthorized access to MGM's computer systems.
The targeted cyber attack resulted in operational disruptions, such as disabling online reservation systems, digital room keys, slot machines, and websites across MGM's 31 resorts. The group claimed to have stolen 6 terabytes of data during the attack. MGM began restoring their systems on September 14, 2023, and confirmed full restoration by September 20, 2023.
XZ Utils Backdoor Incident
In February 2024, a backdoor was introduced into the XZ Utils data compression utility, specifically within the liblzma library versions 5.6.0 and 5.6.1. The malicious code was added by a contributor using the alias "Jia Tan."
This backdoor allowed attackers with an Ed448 private key to execute remote malicious commands via OpenSSH, posing a severe security risk. The backdoor was discovered in March 2024 before it could be widely exploited, underscoring the importance of vigilance in software supply chain security.
Key Cyber Attack Detection and Prevention Technologies
There are several types of tools that can help identify and block cyber attacks.
1. Firewalls and Web Application Firewalls
Firewalls act as gatekeepers between trusted and untrusted networks, enforcing access control policies by inspecting incoming and outgoing traffic. Traditional network firewalls filter traffic based on IP addresses, ports, and protocols. They are effective at blocking unauthorized access, but have limited visibility into application-layer cybersecurity threats.
Web application firewalls (WAFs) are designed specifically to protect web applications by filtering and monitoring HTTP/S traffic. They defend against common web attacks like SQL injection attack, cross-site scripting (XSS), and remote file inclusion. Modern WAFs often include signature-based detection, behavior analysis, and bot mitigation. Some integrate with content delivery networks (CDNs) to reduce latency while providing edge-based protection.
Firewalls and WAFs remain foundational components of layered security, but they must be regularly updated and tuned to remain effective against evolving threats.
2. Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS)
Intrusion detection and prevention systems are deployed to monitor network or system activities for malicious behavior. They combine detection and response capabilities, identifying potential cyber threats and blocking or alerting on them in real time. Signature-based IDPS uses known patterns of malicious traffic, while anomaly-based systems build baselines of normal behavior and flag deviations.
IDPS can be network-based (NIDPS), monitoring traffic flowing across the network, or host-based (HIDPS), focusing on individual systems. They are especially effective against known exploits, port scans, and brute-force attempts. However, they require ongoing tuning to balance sensitivity and reduce false positives.
3. External Attack Surface Management (EASM)
External attack surface management focuses on discovering, monitoring, and reducing an organization’s publicly accessible assets that could be exploited by attackers. EASM tools continuously scan the internet for exposed infrastructure, domains, IP addresses, and applications tied to an organization—often uncovering shadow IT or forgotten assets.
These platforms help identify misconfigured services, outdated software, open ports, and other vulnerabilities before adversaries can exploit them. Many EASM solutions also track domain reputation, detect phishing attacks, and monitor for leaked login credentials or sensitive data.
By providing visibility into the organization’s digital footprint from an attacker’s perspective, EASM supports proactive risk reduction and informs vulnerability management and cyber incident response efforts.
4. Network Detection and Response (NDR)
Network detection and response tools continuously monitor network traffic for suspicious patterns. Unlike traditional tools that rely on known signatures, NDR leverages behavioral analytics and machine learning to detect deviations from normal activity, uncovering cyber threats like lateral movement, command-and-control communication, malicious software or data exfiltration.
NDR provides high-fidelity alerts with rich context, supporting proactive threat hunting and incident investigations. These tools often include packet capture and metadata logging, which help analysts reconstruct attacks. NDR complements endpoint and perimeter security by focusing on threats within internal networks, which are often missed by external defenses.
5. Extended Detection and Response (XDR)
Extended detection and response solutions integrate data from multiple security components—endpoint, network, server, identity, and cloud—into a unified detection and response framework. XDR aims to break down silos between security tools, offering a consolidated view of threats and enabling faster, more accurate investigations.
XDR uses machine learning, analytics, and automation to detect complex attack sequences across environments. By correlating events across different sources, it reduces alert fatigue and provides a clearer picture of attacker behavior. Many platforms also include guided workflows, playbooks, and automated response actions to help security teams triage and respond.
6. Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
SIEM platforms centralize log and event data from across the IT environment—firewalls, servers, endpoints, applications, and more—for real-time monitoring, alerting, and forensic analysis. They use correlation rules, behavior analytics, and threat intelligence feeds to identify suspicious activities and potential incidents.
Modern SIEMs support machine learning-based anomaly detection, customizable dashboards, and automated alerting. They also assist in compliance, providing audit trails and reporting for standards like HIPAA, PCI DSS, and GDPR. However, effective SIEM usage depends on proper configuration, data normalization, regular rule tuning, and skilled analysts to interpret findings and manage alerts.
7. Cloud Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP)
Cloud native application protection platforms provide an integrated set of security features designed specifically for cloud-native environments. CNAPPs combine capabilities such as cloud security posture management (CSPM), cloud workload protection (CWPP), and container security to secure applications across the development lifecycle and runtime environments.
These platforms offer visibility into misconfigurations, vulnerabilities, and compliance risks across cloud infrastructure, containers, and Kubernetes environments. They continuously monitor for cybersecurity threats and unauthorized changes in cloud resources and workloads, often leveraging agentless scanning and API integrations.
CNAPPs also help shift security left by integrating into CI/CD pipelines, allowing teams to detect issues early in the development process. Runtime protection includes anomaly detection, file integrity monitoring, and behavioral analysis to identify threats in real time.
Critical Best Practices for Cyber Defense
Here are some of the main ways that organizations can defend themselves against a variety of cyber threats.
8. Regular Testing and Asset Discovery for External Attack Surface
Understanding and managing the external attack surface—the set of digital assets exposed to the internet—is crucial for preventing initial compromise. Regular testing and discovery help identify unknown or forgotten assets such as outdated applications, misconfigured cloud services, exposed APIs, and open ports that can be exploited by attackers.
Attack surface management platforms, external vulnerability scanners, and DNS enumeration can continuously map the organization's perimeter. They identify shadow IT and monitor changes over time, providing alerts for newly exposed or modified services. Manual validation and contextual analysis help differentiate between critical exposures and benign findings.
Routine assessments should be integrated into the security workflow, especially after infrastructure changes, mergers, or cloud migrations. Findings must be prioritized based on risk and addressed promptly.
9. Integrating Penetration Testing
Penetration testing, or ethical hacking, involves security professionals simulating attacks to uncover vulnerabilities in applications, networks, and systems. Unlike automated vulnerability scanners, penetration tests provide insights into how real attackers might exploit weaknesses. This approach helps identify configuration errors, insecure business logic, and flawed access controls that could be missed by other tools.
Tests can be black-box (no prior knowledge), white-box (full knowledge), or gray-box (partial knowledge), depending on the assessment goal. They should be conducted regularly—at least annually—and whenever major infrastructure or application changes occur. Incorporating the findings into a remediation plan is essential, as is validating fixes with retesting.
10. Implementing Strong Access Controls
Strong access control mechanisms limit exposure by ensuring users can only access the data and computer systems necessary for their role. Central to this is the principle of least privilege, which restricts permissions to the bare minimum. Role-based access control (RBAC) simplifies management by assigning permissions to roles rather than individuals, which is especially important in large or dynamic organizations.
Multifactor authentication (MFA) adds a second layer of defense by requiring additional verification, such as a mobile app code or biometric scan. Organizations should also regularly review and audit access rights, particularly when users change roles or leave the organization. Privileged access management tools help secure and monitor administrative access.
11. Developing and Testing Incident Response Plans
An incident response plan (IRP) outlines structured actions to detect, contain, eradicate, and recover from cyber incidents. This document serves as a playbook for teams under pressure, reducing confusion and enabling timely decisions.
A complete IRP includes predefined communication templates, contact lists for internal and external stakeholders, legal and regulatory procedures, and technical containment steps. Testing the plan is just as important as creating it. Tabletop exercises simulate real-world attack scenarios, helping teams practice coordination and identify process gaps.
Lessons learned from exercises and actual incidents should feed back into plan updates. The IRP should also align with the organization’s broader business continuity and disaster recovery strategies to ensure operational resilience in the face of disruptions.
12. Managing Third-Party Risks
Third-party vendors, contractors, and service providers often integrate deeply with an organization’s systems and data flows, making them attractive targets for attackers. Managing this risk begins with due diligence: evaluating vendor security policies, certifications, and incident history before engagement.
Contracts should include clauses requiring security controls, breach notification timelines, and rights to audit. Post-onboarding, organizations should monitor third-party activities using access logs, endpoint telemetry, and behavioral analytics. Vendor risk assessments should be conducted regularly, especially for high-impact partners.
Tools such as third-party risk management platforms and continuous vendor monitoring services provide visibility into supplier security posture. Additionally, limiting third-party access through network segmentation and zero trust architectures helps reduce the blast radius if a partner is compromised.
13. Continuous Monitoring and Logging
Continuous monitoring involves observing computer system and network activities in real time to identify anomalies that may indicate a breach. Effective monitoring requires collecting data from across the IT environment—endpoints, servers, firewalls, cloud platforms, and applications—and analyzing it for patterns of compromise.
Centralizing this data into a security information and event management (SIEM) system enables correlation across sources and faster response. Logging must be comprehensive and consistent. Logs should capture authentication events, file changes, system errors, and configuration changes, among others.
Organizations should define alert thresholds and prioritize high-risk events for immediate review. Retention policies should meet compliance needs and support forensic investigations. Regular tuning of alert rules reduces false positives and ensures monitoring adapts to evolving threats.
14. Regularly Updating and Patching Systems
Patching is an often neglected component of cybersecurity. Attackers frequently exploit known vulnerabilities for which patches already exist. A disciplined patch management process ensures timely remediation of these flaws before they are exploited. This includes operating systems and third-party software, firmware, and embedded systems.
Effective patching requires maintaining an accurate inventory of all assets and their software versions. Critical patches should be deployed as soon as feasible, while others can follow a regular schedule. Testing patches in staging environments helps avoid downtime in production systems. Automated tools can accelerate patch deployment and provide visibility..
15. Educating and Training Employees
Employee mistakes, like clicking on phishing links or using weak passwords, are among the most common entry points for attackers. Regular security awareness training educates staff on recognizing threats and following secure practices. Topics should include phishing attacks, password hygiene, safe browsing, social engineering, and sensitive data handling.
Training should be interactive and role-specific, ensuring relevance and retention. For example, developers should receive secure coding training, while finance staff should focus on business email compromise (BEC) scenarios. Simulated phishing campaigns test employee awareness and reinforce learning. Employees should also be encouraged to report suspicious behavior.
Securing the Attack Surface with CyCognito
As cyber attacks grow more sophisticated, driven by advanced persistent threats, zero-day exploits, and supply chain intrusion, the ability to secure your external attack surface becomes a foundational requirement, not a luxury.
CyCognito gives security teams continuous, attacker-like visibility across all internet-exposed assets, including unknown subsidiaries, misconfigured cloud services, and forgotten infrastructure. This real-time intelligence closes critical gaps that traditional tools miss and enables faster informed response to evolving threats.
By combining external attack surface management (EASM), dynamic application testing, and continuous security validation, CyCognito helps organizations prioritize what’s truly exploitable and mitigate risk before attackers strike.
The result is a shift from reactive defenses to a proactive security posture—equipping defenders not only to stop current breaches, but to prevent future attacks entirely.
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