Which type of attack is characterized by unauthorized access from within an organization?

An inside attack is characterized by unauthorized access from within an organization, typically involving individuals who have legitimate access to the organization's systems or data. These attackers may be employees, contractors, or other insiders who exploit their access rights to perform malicious actions or compromise sensitive information.

Inside attacks can include a range of activities, such as data theft, sabotage, or the dissemination of malware within the organization's network. The unique challenge posed by these attacks arises from the fact that perpetrators already have some level of trust and access granted by the organization, making detection and prevention more complex.

Other types of attacks, such as outside attacks, refer to threats originating from external sources who do not have authorized access. Active attacks are those where the attacker actively engages to alter data or communication, while passive attacks involve eavesdropping or monitoring communications without altering them. While these attacks are significant, they do not capture the essence of unauthorized actions taken by insiders, making inside attack the most accurate characterization in this context.