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Quiz Entry - updated: 2026.07.05

What are the four types of threats that may arise after a threat actor gains access to a network?

Information theft, data loss/manipulation, identity theft, and disruption of service.

Once a threat actor is inside a network, the damage falls into four broad categories. They are worth distinguishing because each targets a different asset — confidentiality, integrity, identity, or availability — and so calls for a different defence:

  1. Information Theft - Breaking in to steal confidential information (attacks confidentiality). Example: copying a company's research data to sell to a competitor.
  2. Data Loss and Manipulation - Destroying or altering data records (attacks integrity). Example: a virus reformatting a hard drive, or quietly changing prices in a billing system.
  3. Identity Theft - Stealing personal information to impersonate someone, then using that identity to obtain documents or credit illegally.
  4. Disruption of Service - Preventing legitimate users from reaching services they are entitled to (attacks availability) — the goal of denial-of-service attacks.

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From Quiz: NETW1 / Network Security Fundamentals | Updated: Jul 05, 2026