Physical Attacks

A physical attack involves the use of sneaky tactics to breach actual physical spaces. Think of it as the bad guys using tactics beyond the screen—such as trying different passwords repeatedly until they break in, copying secret signals to access secure areas, or even causing chaos by disrupting power during storms. Let’s look at some of these physical attacks in turn.

Physical Brute Force

A physical brute-force attack is a direct attack in which someone takes a physical implement (such as a sledgehammer or crowbar) and breaks down a door to gain access and steal the equipment inside. These should not be confused with password brute-force attacks, mentioned later in the Password Attacks section of this chapter.

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Cloning

Imagine a scenario in which sneaky cyber intruders copy the signals from key cards or badges that allow people to enter secure areas. This method is referred to as RFID cloning, and armed...