With so many types of cyberattacks, you may be wondering how to know when you are being attacked. You do not need to be a cybersecurity expert to know that hacking is pervasive. A few different red flags can tell you when something is amiss in your network. Here is a brief overview of the most common types of cyber-attacks today.
Phishing Emails
Cybersecurity statistics and Reports surface daily of major companies suffering severe data breaches. They can be used later for identity theft, money laundering, etc. Phishing emails attack usually begins with an innocuous email or social media message containing a link or attachment to a malicious website. Members of the business who click on this link or open this attachment will have their accounts compromised by hackers. You can prevent this type of attack by warning employees to be extra careful about the connections and attachments in their emails and social media accounts.
Web Attacks
These attacks work on your website to destroy or edit your data. For example, someone who has access to your website from the internet could do things like take more time off than they are supposed to and charge for it. They can also use up all of your funds without their knowledge and add unwanted content, among other things. You can prevent this type of attack by ensuring that you use a proper security solution for your website. Ensure the site has solid protection for the information you hold on it.
Denial/DDoS Attacks
A Denial of Service (DoS) attack is when a hacker causes a system to overload so that legitimate users cannot access it. A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, on the other hand, is when the overload occurs because there is more than one computer or server sending the requests at once. This can overwhelm the system. It causes it to crash and deny others access altogether. You can prevent this type of attack by using a proper firewall and security software to filter out these malicious requests.
Malware Attacks
Malicious software is another common type of cyberattack that comes in many different forms. The software runs on your computer like an invader. It can do things such as steal personal and financial information, damage computers, cause economic instability, etc. Malware can be prevented by using strong antivirus/firewall protection to keep this software out of your network.
Data Breaches
The other most common type of attack is a data breach. Hackers get into your system in this attack and steal important information. The most popular way this happens is through a weak email password. It could also be a phishing scam that gets you to reveal that information accidentally. Once the hackers have it, they can use it for malicious reasons like identity theft or sending out spam messages. You can prevent this type of attack by ensuring solid passwords for your email and other accounts. Another option is having multiple layers of encryption on your devices.
Password Stealing
Employees are the biggest culprits for leaving their passwords exposed. This makes it easy for hackers to steal them. For example, if an employee correctly types their password but leaves the computer unlocked, anyone could walk away with this information. Typing your password is the first step in keeping your data secure. However, secondary measures should be taken. This includes ensuring you have a good password management program installed on your desktop. You should also have several methods of access to your accounts. For example, you can use using two-factor authentication.
You will hear most about these cyberattacks in the news and business. These attacks usually start with a message or email sent out to one person at a time. Once those people fall for it, the hackers can gain access more effortlessly through each successive person they go after. The best way to prevent this from happening is by warning your employees about these types of attacks. Consider showing them what to do if they get a potentially malicious message or email.
