By Damien Gigot, freelance writer.
There's no getting around the fact that cyber threats are real and pose a risk to every individual, business and organization. This is why cyber security professionals are so crucial.
They help companies protect against the most common cybersecurity threats. This includes phishing attacks, which can steal a jaw-dropping $17,700 per minute.
Malvertising
Malvertising is a type of malicious advertising that uses code to infect computers or mobile devices. It’s one of the top cyber threats that can affect both individuals and organizations. It’s a fast-growing threat that’s hard to stop, so it’s essential to understand how to protect against it.
The first step in preventing a malvertising attack is to stay up to date with your software and operating system. This includes both updates and security patches. Keeping your OS, applications and web browsers up to date helps prevent malware infections from targeting older vulnerabilities that have since been patched.
Another way to reduce your risk is to disable browser plug-ins that are known to be vulnerable to attacks like malvertising. You can also run ad blockers on your computer to limit the amount of ads you’re exposed to.
While ad blocking doesn’t prevent all types of malvertising, it can make it harder for an attacker to get around your protection. It also doesn’t allow an ad to display if it’s blocked, so you can’t accidentally click on an infected ad without realizing you’re doing it.
Removing outdated or unneeded software is key. Malvertising often exploits older versions of Flash and Java, so you may want to consider deleting those plugins from your browser altogether.
Malvertising is a growing and pervasive threat that can affect any computer or mobile device. It’s a cyclical threat that comes and goes, and it can be difficult to bring to justice.
It’s especially important to keep your mobile devices protected because they are more likely to be infected with malware and other cyber threats than their desktop counterparts. Having a strong commitment to keeping your devices up to date with the latest security patches and anti-malware programs is the best defense against these threats.
If you’re running ad blockers, be sure to update them as soon as possible. They can help ward off some types of malvertising attacks, such as drive-by downloads, which don’t require any user interaction to install malware on your device.
Phishing
Phishing, which is also known as social engineering, is one of the most common and dangerous cybersecurity threats. It is a deceptive online scam in which cyber attackers pose as reputable organizations or individuals to extract sensitive information and financial details from their victims.
Phishers often use fake emails to get people to click on links that install malware or steal login credentials. They may also send voice calls, text messages and even hijack URLs on legitimate websites.
These phishing attacks can be carried out over any medium and in any language. However, the most common way for phishers to reach their targets is through email.
Some phishing scams may use fake login pages that look like those of popular services, such as Microsoft Office or Amazon. These pages contain a login box that appears to be legitimate, asking the victim to enter their login credentials. If they do, the data will be sent to the hackers.
Another type of phishing attack, Voice Phishing, uses voice synthesis software to leave fake voicemails that ask the victim to verify their identity. This may sound like a legitimate call from the bank or credit card company, but it will lead to account credentials being compromised.
The best way to prevent phishing attacks is by educating your staff about the different types of phishing scams and how they can be avoided. This can be done through onboarding new employees or by periodically retraining them.
Employees should also be able to identify the warning signs of phishing emails and report suspicious incidents. This is a crucial step in the fight against phishing, as it gives the security team a chance to detect and stop phishing before it has a chance to cause damage.
Companies should also implement a security policy that prohibits employees from visiting certain sites, which can greatly reduce the chances of being targeted by phishing.
While phishing has been around for over 20 years, it’s still one of the most prevalent and dangerous cyber threats out there. In fact, there are three billion phishing emails sent out every day.
Ransomware
Ransomware is malware that encrypts files on your computer system, making it impossible to access them. Victims are typically notified that their data has been encrypted and they must pay a ransom to obtain the decryption key. This is usually done by using a crypto currency like Bitcoin. However, some versions of ransomware also install malware on the victim’s system after they pay the ransom.
The best way to prevent a ransomware attack is by keeping your security systems up-to-date. This includes operating software, anti-malware applications and firmware. This ensures that your security systems can identify newer threats, such as ransomware.
Often, attackers begin their attacks with email phishing or social engineering that aims to get users to click on an infected attachment. Cybersecurity training can help users recognize suspicious emails and avoid opening them.
Limiting the privileges of users on your network can help reduce infection risk by limiting their access to sensitive files and programs. In addition, restricting access to network drives can also limit the possibility of a ransomware infection spreading to other computers on your network.
Disconnecting any infected systems and powering them down is also a critical part of preventing ransomware spread on your network. Prioritize restoration of the most important systems to minimize business disruption and restore productivity, while eradicating the threat from your network if possible.
Restoring your files from backup is another way to ensure that you can access your files after a ransomware attack. If you do not have a current backup, then make sure that you backup your files on removable media or in an offsite location to avoid a data loss in the future.
Reporting the attack to law enforcement can help gather information that can improve your organization’s security going forward. This will allow law enforcement to investigate the malware and help prevent similar attacks.
It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on what ransomware attacks are happening in your region so you can learn more about this type of cybersecurity crime and develop solutions that can better protect your company from future attacks.
Social Engineering
Social engineering is a type of cyberattack that uses deceptive techniques to manipulate your emotions, and to get you to act against your better judgment. It can be used to steal information, money, or even your computer, and it is one of the most common and feared threats in cyberspace.
These attacks are usually carried out by hackers or other criminals who use social engineering to gain unauthorized access to computers and data. They are also commonly used to launch phishing scams and ransomware attacks.
The key to preventing these types of attacks is to know how they work and what they look like. This can help you protect your company and yourself from these malicious threats.
A social engineer will first identify people who have what they are looking for – this may include credentials, money, or data. Once they have identified a target, they will then start to scope out the person online. They will watch where they work, read their email, and take notes on what they post.
They will then send out targeted phishing emails or other malicious messages designed to scare or persuade their victims into providing them with the information they need. These emails often look legitimate, but they are meant to trick their targets into opening them or clicking on links in them.
These emails might contain false links that lead to malware, or they could ask the victim to verify their bank account information or other personal details. In some cases, the attackers will even try to extort the victim into giving them their credit card number or other valuable information.
Phishing is the most common form of social engineering. It can occur in the form of an email, phone call, or social media message and will typically contain a link that leads to a fraudulent website. Other forms of phishing are spear phishing (targeting a specific individual), whaling (targeting celebrities or high-level executives), and vishing (voice phishing).
The best way to prevent these types of attacks is by creating a positive security culture within your organization. This involves consistent training and education of employees about the threats. It also includes sharing 'war stories' and industry experience so that your employees understand the risks and can protect themselves from them.
Final Words
Cyber security is an ever-evolving field and it's important to stay up to date on the latest threats. By understanding the various types of cybersecurity threats, you can take steps to protect yourself and your organization against them.
Keeping systems updated with the latest software patches, using strong passwords, regularly backing up data, using a firewall, and using an antivirus program are all steps to help protect your data.
Utilizing a multi-factor authentication system and educating staff on cybersecurity best practices can increase the security of your organization’s network.
With these strategies in place, you can ensure that your organization is safe from cyber attacks.
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