Types of Cyber Security Threats You Should Know

Cyberattacks have become an everyday occurrence. And many businesses and private systems are losing millions of dollars.

Although cooperates are the primary targets, attackers may also target individuals. In most cases, it is because they have some information on their phones and use insecure networks.

The motives behind cyberattacks vary. But money is the most obvious reason. Some attackers may shut down the system and demand payment to restore it online.

The best crest accreditation is some way companies can better cyber security by tracking the cyberattacks present regardless of the motives. This article looks at the five different cyber security threats that present-day organizations need to know. Let’s get started.

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)

Denial of Service (DoS) attacks are aimed at overwhelming a resource’s system, which causes it to stop functioning. As such, users cannot access it. DDoS is simply a variant of DoS where attackers hack various computers or devices and use them to attack a specific system.

These attacks often launch a denial of service to get the attention of the security personnel and create confusion. This way, the hackers carry out more subtle attacks and steal data or cause other damage.

The standard types of DoS and DDoS attacks are teardrop attacks, ping-of-death attacks, and botnets.

Malware

Malware refers to various attacks like viruses, worms, and spyware. Hackers plant a dangerous email attachment or link inside a network in this threat. When a user clicks it, it installs malicious software in the system.

This way, attackers will:

  • Deny access to the network’s crucial components 
  • Retrieve hard drives and get sensitive information 
  • Render the system inoperable 

The most common types of malware include viruses, Trojans, worms, spyware, and ransomware.

Main in the Middle (MitM)

Here, a third party intercepts communication between two sides. The hacker can then modify data or steal sensitive information, and neither party won’t realize it before it reaches the intended recipient.

MitM can be of two categories. The first one is where the hacker usually happens in public Wi-Fi hotspots or a home network that uses a weak password. Here, the hacker exploits the security vulnerabilities of the Wi-Fi system.

The second attack is known as the Man in the Browser. Here, the attacker manipulates a system’s users to run infected software or click a link that installs malware using a Trojan.

Spam and Phishing

Spam means unwanted or undesired emails and messages. Phishing is a social engineering form that includes attempts by the hacker to obtain sensitive information. Such attempts usually appear to come from a trustworthy business or person.

Criminals pretend they’re trustworthy representatives. So, they send you messages or emails warning you about the information on your account. Such messages are emails often accompanied by a link to a fake email address or website where targets give out confidential information.

The message format looks official, with proper names and logos. Therefore, it may be hard to know that it is fake at first glance. Any information you provide using the fake link goes to the cyber attacker.

Password Attacks

When a cybercriminal gets your password, they can access a lot of your personal information. Often, they use social engineering, where they trick people into breaking standard security practices. Other ways criminals can access your password are outright guessing or using a password database.

There is also the SQL injection attack that occurs when criminals access the database by uploading malicious Structured Query Language Script. The attacker can see, change, or delete data in your SQL database if successful.

Conclusion

Even as new and better security technology is being developed, cyber attackers are upgrading their methods. Therefore, it makes it challenging to end cyber attacks ultimately. However, refining your cybersecurity program and knowing the threats cybercriminals use can help you prevent cyberattacks.

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