Threats, Attackers & Motivations
Who Are the Attackers?
Common attacker types:
- Script Kiddies – beginners using tools
- Hacktivists – ideological attackers
- Cybercriminals – financial motivation
- Insiders – employees or trusted users
- Nation-state attackers – espionage & warfare
In CTFs, you act as the attacker to understand defense.
Question1. Why are insiders risky even without hacking skills?
a) They know how to code
b) They are untrustworthy by default
c) They can misuse permissions and data
d) They create malware
Question2. If a disgruntled employee leaks internal files, which attacker type is this?
Question3. A well-funded team hacks a government database for intelligence. Who are they?
Question4. You see someone using Kali Linux scripts to break a website without understanding them. Who are they?
Common Cyber Threats
Common threats include:
- Malware
- Phishing
- Password attacks
- Web vulnerabilities
- Misconfigurations
- Insider misuse
Most attacks succeed due to:
- Weak passwords
- Human mistakes
- Poor configurations
Question1. What is the biggest reason cyber attacks succeed?
a) Strong encryption
b) Human mistakes
c) Firewalls
d) Hardware failures
Question2. What type of attack tricks users into giving sensitive information via email or messages?
Question3. Which threat spreads automatically through files or email?
Question4. What attack comes from authorized users misusing their access?
Question5. Which of the following is NOT usually a reason attacks succeed?
a) Weak passwords
b) Poor configurations
c) Regular software updates
d) Human mistakes
Question6. A web app exposes an admin panel without authentication. What threat does this represent?