{"id":26221,"date":"2022-03-21T14:58:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-21T13:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/perseus.de\/attack-vector\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T12:21:34","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T11:21:34","slug":"attack-vector","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/perseus.de\/en\/attack-vector\/","title":{"rendered":"Attack vector"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Attack vector<\/h1>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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An attack vector<\/strong> refers to the path or method<\/strong> used to launch a cyber attack on a system or company. It is the gateway that attackers use to gain unauthorized access to data, networks or systems<\/strong>. <\/p>

<\/h3>

What does that mean in detail?<\/h3>

Attack vectors can affect both technical vulnerabilities<\/strong> and human behavior<\/strong>. Typical examples are <\/p>

  • Phishing emails<\/strong>: users are tricked into revealing passwords<\/p><\/li>

  • Open ports<\/strong>: Services that can be accessed unprotected via the Internet<\/p><\/li>

  • Vulnerabilities in software<\/strong>: e.g. outdated operating systems or applications<\/p><\/li>

  • Stolen access data<\/strong>: through leaks or insecure passwords<\/p><\/li>

  • Malware attachments<\/strong> in emails or downloads<\/p><\/li>

  • Infected USB sticks<\/strong> or other external devices<\/p><\/li><\/ul>

    <\/h3>

    Where do I encounter this in everyday SME life?<\/h3>

    Attack vectors often occur in the everyday life of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs):<\/p>

    • When employees open unchecked attachments<\/strong><\/p><\/li>

    • If there is no patch management<\/strong> <\/p><\/li>

    • When passwords<\/strong> are used multiple times and unsecured<\/strong> <\/p><\/li>

    • When external service providers use insecure connections<\/strong> <\/p><\/li><\/ul>

      <\/h3>

      Protective measures:<\/h3>

      • Sensitization and training<\/strong> of employees (e.g. against phishing)<\/p><\/li>

      • Current security updates<\/strong> for all systems and software<\/p><\/li>

      • Firewall and network monitoring<\/strong><\/p><\/li>

      • Strong passwords and two-factor authentication<\/strong><\/p><\/li>

      • Access rights according to the “need to know” principle<\/strong><\/p><\/li><\/ul>

        <\/p>

        <\/p>

        Conclusion<\/strong>: Every attack vector is a potential weak point. Recognizing and securing them significantly reduces the risk of cyber attacks. <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/header>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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        Attack vector An attack vector refers to the path or method used to launch a cyber attack on a system or company. It is the gateway that attackers use to gain unauthorized access to data, networks or systems. What does that mean in detail? Attack vectors can affect both technical vulnerabilities and human behavior. Typical […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[57],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-26221","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cyber-glossary"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAttack vector - Perseus Technologies<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/perseus.de\/en\/attack-vector\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Attack vector - Perseus Technologies\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Attack vector An attack vector refers to the path or method used to launch a cyber attack on a system or company. It is the gateway that attackers use to gain unauthorized access to data, networks or systems. What does that mean in detail? Attack vectors can affect both technical vulnerabilities and human behavior. 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