Cybersecurity risks are increasing as technology is evolving. It doesn’t matter if you are running an organization, or you are just an average Internet user. If you have a digital presence, you have data. This data needs protection. Knowing the cybersecurity best practices isn’t enough, but it’s crucial to know about the types of risks.
Most cyber-attacks are attributed to human error. No amount of security can solve the problem that involves manipulating a user into performing an act that compromises confidential material. This is why to stay safe, awareness is pertinent.
These are common cybersecurity risks all Internet users must be aware of:
- Phishing
- Password Cracking
- Ransomware Breaches
- DDoS
- State-Sponsored Attacks
- IoT Attack
- Cryptojacking
- Social Engineering
1. Phishing
It’s the oldest criminal trick in the book. Even though it is common, it has advanced too. For an average user who doesn’t know much awareness, it’s difficult to differentiate between a fake and a genuine email. Hackers impersonate so well these days.
Here, the best advice is to think twice. If an email is from a suspicious or unknown email address, delete it. Also, if the email asks for credentials, never answer. Some hackers don’t ask for bank credentials. Instead, they ask for credentials to your wireless network. Let’s say you receive an email from someone impersonating to be Cox presentative and asking for Cox router login credentials, never share your credentials via email.
No organization, big or small, asks for credentials on the phone or via email. This should raise red flags. To verify if it’s actually Cox, contact their customer support team, and you will figure out the truth.
2. Password Cracking
Cybercriminals rely on password cracking to compromise so many accounts every day. It’s easier because average users don’t pay attention to keeping strong passwords or updating them frequently.
Google now and you will come across several password hacking tools. If the user’s password is weak, the tool will hack it immediately. The criminal won’t even have to put much effort into compromising your account.
To stay safe, make it mandatory to use password management software. It helps a user pick a strong password and keep them safe in a single place. Also, apply multi-factor authentication on your account. This minimizes the chances of being hacked. Strengthen your defenses, and no one will be able to compromise on your security.
3. Ransomware Breaches
Ransomware strategies are evolving. It has cost victims billions of dollars so far. The hacker deploys a technology that enables it to kidnap the database of the company or individual quickly. He holds all the information for a ransom. In exchange for releasing the information, the hacker demands payment in bitcoin.
Ransomware breaches are not limited to companies. Individuals can also become a victim. Some believe that the targets are victims with a high net worth. However, anyone who has got valuable data can be a victim.
4. DDoS
Also known as Distributed Denial of Service, this is a type of attack in which the cybercriminal sends target to a server, overloads it and takes your site down. Sometimes, it doesn’t take the site down but slows down its performance to such an extent that it becomes unusable.
To prevent a DDoS attack, you must keep on monitoring the incoming traffic on your website. If someday, the traffic is higher than usual, check the location as well as the demographics of the traffic. You might have to make the server go offline to prevent the attack.
5. State-Sponsored Attacks
Hackers don’t just look to make a profit by stealing individual or corporate data; they also infiltrate the system of governments. The purpose is to launch an attack on the infrastructure. Over the years, state-sponsored attacks have increased.
A hacker, when launching such an attack, could have many different motives. It could also be for fun or for taking the system down.
6. IoT Attack
IoT devices are also vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Hackers launch take control of a device by launching a DDoS attack. They use the device to access confidential information. This attack can give them access to lots of juicy data.
7. Cryptojacking
It’s the process of attempting to install malware on a system that forces it to perform crypto mining. This attack works like a virus. It has the potential to infect other systems as well that are unprotected.
To keep your devices from being cryptojacked, make sure all security apps in your PC are updated. Use the latest version of the firewall as well. This should keep hackers at bay.
8. Social Engineering
It’s pretty much similar to phishing. You send an email from an impersonator attempting to deceive you into giving away sensitive information. This type of attack is common in organizations. An employer receives an email from an impersonator requesting to send payment immediately.
So let’s say you receive an email from Cox Internet support saying that you didn’t pay your bill asking you to send payment in a particular account number, verify this information before responding. A provider like Cox will never ask for payment via email.
Staying updated with the common cybersecurity risks and knowing how to keep yourself protected can save you from being victimized.