Cyber ??attack is an action practiced by hackers that consists of transmitting viruses (malicious files) that infect, damage and steal information from computers and other online databases, for example.
As stated, cyber attacks are usually carried out by criminals who work in the online environment, known as hackers or crackers. This illegal act is considered a computer crime, also called cybercrime, electronic crime or digital crime.
Cyber ??attacks and the spread of viruses can be done by various means, mainly through contaminated links and transmitted by emails. Another common method of transmission is through infected pages, downloading pirated software or even pen drives left by criminals with the virus that infects the network.
Cyber ??attacks are not only aimed at targeting computers or smartphones for personal use, but mainly online networks of governments, companies, banks, airports, hospitals, etc. In addition to serving to steal information, cyber attacks also compromise the functioning of contemporary society and can generate other social and economic problems for nations.
As a rule, cyber attacks usually use a type of virus known as ransomware, which "hijacks" files and data from the infected device and only releases it upon payment of a "ransom" made through virtual currencies (bitcoin).