Which type of hypervisor are malicious attackers most likely to target?

The most likely target for malicious attackers is a Type 2 hypervisor. This is primarily due to the way Type 2 hypervisors operate. They run on top of a host operating system, which means that they inherit the vulnerabilities of that underlying system. If an attacker can compromise the host operating system, they can potentially gain control over the entire virtualization layer, allowing access to all virtual machines managed by the hypervisor.

In contrast, Type 1 hypervisors, which run directly on the hardware without a host OS, are generally more secure. They tend to have a smaller attack surface because there are fewer components that could be exploited. The architecture of Type 1 hypervisors provides a more robust security posture, making it harder for attackers to gain access through the hypervisor.

Type 3 and Type 4 hypervisors are not standard classifications in virtualization and may refer to specific proprietary systems or concepts that are less commonly discussed in the context of mainstream virtualization. Since they are not widely recognized, they are less likely to be targets for attackers compared to the well-established Type 2 hypervisors.

Thus, the vulnerabilities associated with Type 2 hypervisors, owing to their dependence on a host operating system, make them the most