What Is an Attack Vector? 20 Common Ways Hackers Break In and How to Prevent Them

**Executive summary:** This report provides a concise overview of 20 common cyber attack vectors—including phishing, misconfiguration/unpatched software, DDoS, ransomware, credential abuse, supply‑chain attacks, and IoT vulnerabilities—paired with example mitigation strategies and a note on SecurityScorecard’s continuous monitoring and third‑party risk offerings to help organizations prioritize and remediate exposures.