Today, we are dependent on technology more than ever before. Although technology provides many advantages and quick solutions, it also contains some traps and tricks. It is now easier than ever to access information on the Internet, and the Internet of things makes our lives easier by providing smart home solutions. However, there are threats that you have to consider before making technology your ultimate weapon. Modern gadgets are vulnerable to cyber threats, but you can minimize their influence with cyber security. Let’s discuss cyber threats and what you can do to prevent them with the help of cyber security.
What are Cyber Threats?
Modern gadgets are vulnerable to cyber threats, such as data breaches and viruses. Almost every industry in the world has faced cyber threats at one point or another, be it a public entity, medical or educational service. However, some of these industries are more vulnerable to cyber threats than others because they collect financial and medical data that is important to cybercriminals. It is possible for industrial companies that operate on networks to be targeted for data theft, compromising the integrity of their business. We will talk about how to prevent cyber threats to save the brand image of your business, but before that, you should know about the types of cyber threats that you might be facing.
When it comes to cyber security, it will divide the cyber threats into 3 parts: cybercrime, cyber attack, and cyber-terrorism. Cybercrimes are committed by individuals or groups of individuals who target financial systems for disruption. Cyber attacks involve information gathering or stealing, whether for political or personal vendettas. And cyber terrorism is the act of infecting electronic systems to cause panic among general citizens. Cybercriminals get into the technology or network using various common yet complicated methods.
Viruses
Viruses or malware are a type of malicious component that cybercriminals install into technical system products to damage the device. They can also be used to hack information from the users’ systems. Viruses can be spread from one device to another through email attachments or legitimate downloads. Viruses are also used by cybercriminals to create cyber attacks or illicit money laundering. When it comes to viruses, there are different kinds that help with different types of cyber threats or cybercrime activities.
Malware: Malware is a type of virus that has the ability to self-replicate itself and make space for itself on a user’s computer among clean and legitimate files. It can also infect good files and damage the codes of the system.
Trojan: It is another type of virus that can distinguish itself as a software program. This virus is able to trick users into believing that they are using an actual software program, and then the users upload the virus mistakenly onto their computer. A Trojan like a virus, can cause damage to the system and can also collect sensitive information from the user without their given permission.
Spyware: Spyware is exactly what it sounds like; it infiltrates your system and monitors everything you do.It keeps a record of every action you take on your computer, such as inputting your credit card details.
Ransomware: Ransomware will get inside a user’s computer and lock down the files and data. The ransomware will demand money from the users and, if denied, threaten to erase the information.
Adware: Adware is an advertisement for a virus that can be spread from one device to another and damage the system.
But apart from viruses, there are some other kinds of security threats that you should also consider.
SQL Injections
SQL injections fall under the cyberattack category that cybercriminals use to take control or steal the database of an organization. In order to inject SQL or a structured language query into a database, cybercriminals must first make the applications vulnerable by inserting malicious code or a virus. Criminals can also insert a malicious SQL statement inside of the database to access the private information that is stored inside the database.
Phishing Attacks
A phishing attack is a type of cyberattack that criminals use by sending out emails to users posing as legitimate brands or companies asking for private information. Phishing attacks are mostly known as attacks that ask for credit card details and other sensitive information that can be used against users.
Denial-of-service Attack
A denial-of-service attack is used by cybercriminals to block a computer from accepting data transaction requests and overcrowding the network with traffic. When this kind of attack takes place, the network and the system become unusable, and it creates unnecessary complications within an organization as the staff can’t carry out important tasks online.
Man-in-the-middle Attack
By using a man-in-the-middle attack, cybercriminals block communications between two devices to steal data. For instance, if the Wi-Fi network that you are using is not secured by any security protocol, then an attacker can thwart the data that is transmitted between the network and a user’s device.
Romance Scams
Romance scams are a new cyberthreat that has emerged on dating websites.It’s the latest cybercrime that has taken place in the USA, according to the FBI’s report from February 2020. Romance scams are a type of cybercrime where criminals lurk in dating apps, coaxing users into giving away their personal data and using it against the victims. In New Mexico, romance scams affected around 115 victims in 2019 and led to a loss of $1.6 million just in one year.
But these types of cybercrime can be prevented if you practise cyber security techniques.
What is Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is the practise or discipline of protecting your network and devices from malicious attacks such as spammers, cybercriminals, and hackers. Some elements of cybersecurity can help you beat down a cyberattack, but most of the elements are focused on how to protect computers, networks, databases, smartphones, and other electronic gadgets from potential cyber threats and attacks. Since the rise in the number of cybercrimes, there has been a need for cyber security. Cyber security can shield you from all types of cyber threats, including identity theft, cybercrime, and anything else malicious that occurs in the cyber world. There are five main types of cybersecurity practises for various sizes of organisations to protect important databases and devices.
How many Cybersecurity Techniques are there?
There are five main types of cyber security practises that organisations and individuals use to protect their sensitive information from malicious people or cybercriminals.
1. Infrastructure Security
Organizations with a critical infrastructure tend to be more vulnerable to cyberattacks than other organizations. This happens because the supervisory control and data acquisition systems are mostly dependent on older software programs. And older software programmes lack security features, which makes them vulnerable to cyber threats. Organizations that provide essential functions such as health-related services, transport, energy, and digital service providers come under the NIS regulations. Companies are required by NIS regulations to implement strategic technical and organisational measures to prevent security risks within the infrastructure.
2. Network Security
With network security, organisations can determine the vulnerabilities that affect the operating system, servers, hosts, firewalls, networks, wireless access points, network protocols, etc., so that they can take the necessary security measures to prevent cyber threats.
3. Cloud Security
Cloud security is designed to protect the data, applications, and infrastructure that are stored in the cloud database of an organization.
The Internet of Things Security
The Internet of things, or IoT, also requires security that involves protecting smart devices and networks that are linked to the IoT. IoT devices can connect to the Internet without the help of humans, and these devices include lights, fire alarms, thermostats, etc.
Application Security
The purpose of application security is to identify the vulnerabilities within an application that result from improper software development, inappropriate software design, and faults in the code and publication of the program.
Conclusion
The most secure way to protect your computer is to use the latest antivirus software programs, keep your computer software, operating system, and network current with the latest versions, use strong passwords, do not open attachments from unknown senders, do not click on links and emails from unfamiliar websites and unknown senders, do not use public Wi-Fi networks without VPN connections, etc. Using these methods can help you prevent cyber attacks on your system, but at the same time, you should keep them updated, such as changing passwords frequently, to improve cybersecurity.