Difference Between Active and Passive Attacks

The main difference between active and passive attacks is that a hacker attacks the system and modifies the data or information in an active attack. In contrast, in a passive attack, a hacker attacks the system but does not modify the data or the information.

Active and Passive attacks are two main types of attacks in which cyberattacks can be classified. But, many of us are unaware of the difference between an active attack and a passive attack or what these attacks are. So, in this article, we will explore what active and passive attacks are, along with the difference between them.

Table of Contents (TOC)

• Difference Between Active and Passive Attacks
• What is an Active Attack?
• What is a Passive Attack?
• Key Differences Between Active and Passive Attacks

Must Explore- What is Cybersecurity?

Difference Between Active and Passive Attacks 

For a better understanding, let’s cover the difference between active and passive attacks in a tabular format. Here’s the table:

Benchmark	Active Attack	Passive Attack
Definition	It is a type of attack in which hackers modify the information or the data.	It is an attack in which hackers do not modify the information or the data.
It is a danger to the	Integrity and availability of the data.	Confidentiality of the data.
Causes harm to the system?	Yes.	No.
In this type of attack, attention is on	Prevention.	Detection.
In this attack, is the victim informed that he has been attacked?	No.	Yes.
Can this type of attack be easily prohibited in comparison to the other?	No.	Yes.
Can it be easily detected?	Yes.	No.
The duration of this type of attack is	Short.	Long.
The prevention possibility of this type of attack is	High.	Low.
Complexity	High.	Low.
Purpose	To harm the system or the organization.	To learn about the system or the organization.

Here’s an image that illustrates the difference between active and passive attacks:

Your Career Awaits: Discover the Best Government Job-Oriented Courses After 10 & Online Government Certification Opportunities

What is an Active Attack? 

Active Attack Definition: An active attack is a type of cyberattack in which a hacker attacks a system and modifies the data or the information per his requirements to perform malicious tasks. 

During active attacks, the attacker takes an active role in an attempt to gain unauthorized access to a system or network. To do that, they can perform various malicious activities, such as injecting malware, launching a denial-of-service (DoS) attack, or altering data. An active attack typically aims to gain control over the system or steal data.

When an active attack happens, the victim gets informed about the attack as the data changes or modifies. And because of the data modification, these attacks greatly threaten the integrity and availability of data.

Here are some examples of active attacks:

• Phishing: In this attack, the hacker attempts to gain unauthorized access to a computer system to size, modify, or steal data.
• Man-in-the-Middle: In this attack, the hacker catches and transmits communications between two parties who assume they are talking directly with one another
• Ransomware: In this attack, the hacker uses malware to prevent a user or organization from accessing files on their computer.

You can also explore: What is a Salami Attack and How to protect against it?

What is a Passive Attack?

Passive Attack Definition: A passive attack is a cyberattack in which a hacker attacks a system and copies or reads the contents of the message or the information available but does not modify the information.

During passive attacks, the attacker monitors and eavesdrops on the network traffic to gain access to confidential or sensitive data. Passive attacks are extremely hard to identify, as the attacker does not actively take part in the attack. Hence, the victim is uninformed about the attack as there is no change in the data.

Here are some examples of passive attacks:

• Eavesdropping: In this type of attack, the hacker listens in on other people’s conversations without their knowledge.
• Footprinting: In this type of attack, the hacker gathers as much information as possible regarding a computer system or network to find ways to penetrate it.

Key Differences Between Active and Passive Attacks 

Here are the key differences between active and passive attacks:

• A passive attack does not harm the attacked system, whereas an active attack does.
• An active attack can be easily deducted, whereas a passive attack is difficult to detect.
• In an active attack, the victim is informed that he has been attacked, but that’s not the case in a passive attack.
• An active attack is a danger to the integrity and availability of the data. Whereas a passive attack is a danger to the confidentiality of the data.
• The purpose behind active attacks is to harm the system or the organization. But, passive attacks aim to learn about the system or the organization.
• An active attack is a type of attack in which hackers modify the information or the data. In contrast, a passive attack is an attack in which hackers do not modify the information or the data.

You can also explore: Difference Between Phishing and Vishing

Conclusion

In this article, we have explored what active and passive attacks are. We have also explored the difference between active attacks and passive attacks. If you have any queries related to the topic, please feel free to send your queries to us in the form of a comment. We will be happy to help.

Happy Learning!!