Watering Hole Attack

A watering hole attack is a targeted cyber attack in which an attacker observes the websites frequently visited by a specific group or organization and seeks to compromise those sites in order to infect their desired targets. These attacks are named after the natural predator-prey relationship; much like how predators wait near a watering hole to hunt their prey.

In this type of attack, the attacker does not directly target the victims; instead, they focus on the websites that the targeted users commonly visit. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of a typical watering hole attack:

Detection and Prevention

To protect against watering hole attacks, it is important to adopt best practices, including:

In conclusion, a watering hole attack is a subtle yet dangerous vector for cybercriminals to infiltrate their targets’ systems. Organizations should prioritize cybersecurity hygiene and user education to minimize the risks posed by these attacks.