Common Cybersecurity Threats And How To Secure Against Them

June 27, 2024

As we are entering into the digital world, cyber security threats have started to become more advanced and common. As our dependence on IT systems increases, so does the prospect of getting targeted for cyber-attacks. Cybercrime has become quite commonplace and everyone, from individual users to businesses are at risk. In this article, we will find out how you can defend yourself against cyber threats in your daily internet life.

1. Phishing Attacks:

Phishing is another type of social engineering employed by attackers to trick victims into revealing their personal yet confidential information such as passwords, credit card details or any kind on sensitive data. Typically, this comes in the form of an email or a text message pretending to be from some legitimate source like a bank or another common online service.

Protection Tips:

  • Be suspicious of unsolicited phone calls, visits, or any correspondence about reclaiming property if you were affected by the Camp Fire.
  • Confirm the sender is from a legitimate source by looking at their email, or reaching out to the company directly.
  • DO NOT click on any links or download attachments from unknown sources.
  • Always enable two-factor authentication (2FA)
  • Update all antivirus software and OS

2. Incidents of Ransomware:

Malware of the ransomware type encrypts your files and requests money to get the decryption key. For companies that depend on sensitive data, in particular, this kind of attack can be disastrous.

Protection Tips:

  • Backup your data frequently to the cloud or an external hard drive.
  • Install the most recent security fixes for your applications and operating system.
  • Do not open shady attachments or emails.
  • Make use of a firewall and robust antivirus programmes.
  • When an assault occurs, put your disaster recovery strategy into action.

3. Cracking Passwords:

Using automated technologies to guess or crack passwords is known as password cracking. Strong passwords that are one-of-a-kind can help thwart this kind of assault, as can other security precautions.

Protection Tips:

  • For every account, choose a strong, distinct password.
  • Don’t use information that can be guessed, such your name, birthdate, or everyday words.
  • To create and keep track of complicated passwords, use a password manager.
  • Turn on 2FA whenever you can.
  • Establish account lockout procedures and set a limit on login attempts.

4. SQL Injection:

A sort of attack known as SQL injection occurs when an attacker inserts malicious code into a website’s database in order to retrieve private data. Input validation and safe coding techniques help stop this kind of attack.

Protection Tips:

  • SQL injection can be avoided by using parameterized queries and prepared statements.
  • Verify that the user-provided data complies with the required formats.
  • Just grant the bare minimum of database privileges.
  • Maintain your database management system with regular updates and patches.
  • SQL injection attacks can be recognised and stopped by using a web application firewall (WAF).

5. Malware and Viruses:

Malicious software, such as viruses and malware, can damage your computer or steal confidential data. By implementing safe browsing practices and utilising antivirus software, these kinds of assaults can be avoided.

Protection Tips:

  • Install and maintain antivirus software on a regular basis.
  • Refrain from opening dubious attachments or emails.
  • When downloading files or software from unidentified sources, use caution.
  • Make sure your passwords are secure and private.
  • Employ a firewall to stop shady internet traffic.

6. Insider Threats:

Insider threats refer to situations in which contractors, partners, or current or former workers, either knowingly or unknowingly, compromise confidential information. Strict access controls and user activity monitoring can stop this kind of assault from happening.

Protection Tips:

  • Use role-based access control (RBAC) to restrict who has access to private data.
  • Keep an eye on user behaviour and look for unusual conduct.
  • Perform risk assessments and security audits on a regular basis.
  • Employees should receive security awareness training.
  • In the event of an insider threat, put an incident response strategy into action.

7. Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attacks:

DoS and DDoS attacks aim to render a network or website inaccessible to users by flooding it with traffic. By employing traffic filtering and content delivery networks (CDNs), this kind of assault can be avoided.

Protection Tips:

  • To disperse traffic and lower the danger of DoS and DDoS attacks, use a CDN.
  • Use rate limitation and traffic filtering to identify and stop questionable traffic.
  • To identify and stop DoS and DDoS assaults, use a WAF.
  • Perform risk assessments and security audits on a regular basis.
  • In the event of an attack, have an incident response plan ready.

8. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks:

MitM attacks entail listening in on conversations between two parties in order to obtain private data. Secure communication protocols and encryption can stop this kind of attack.

Protection Tips:

  • Sensitive information should not be accessed via unprotected networks or public Wi-Fi as these could be subject to MitM attacks..
  • Use encryption to protect sensitive information. can u specify more protections
  • Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt internet traffic and protect against MitM attacks when using public Wi-Fi or unsecured networks.