What is Cybersecurity?
The purpose of cybersecurity is to protect against unauthorized access or damage to computer systems. Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting networks, systems, hardware and data from digital attacks.
What Is Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity refers to the practice of protecting networks, systems and any other digital infrastructure from malicious attacks. It is not surprising that banks, tech companies, hospitals, government agencies, and just about every other sector are investing in cybersecurity infrastructure to protect their business practices and the millions of customers that trust them with their data.
What are some good cybersecurity strategies? An effective security infrastructure includes multiple layers of protection dispersed throughout a company’s computers, programs and networks. With cyber attacks occurring every 14 seconds, firewalls, antivirus software, anti-spyware software and password management tools must all work in harmony to outwit surprisingly creative cybercriminals.
TYPES OF ATTACKS
Criminals use a variety of methods to carry out cyber attacks, from overt ransomware attacks to more covert data theft operations. Here are some of the most common types of cyberattacks that affect thousands of people every day, as criminals become more sophisticated in their malicious activities.
Malware
Malware is a type of software that is designed to damage or gain unauthorized access to a computer system. Once malware has infiltrated a network, it can wreak havoc by obtaining sensitive information, creating more malicious software, or even blocking access to crucial network components (ransomware).
Phishing
Phishing attacks are often conducted by email, and can be difficult to spot because they may appear to come from a reputable source. By clicking on a phishing link, you could be giving cyber criminals access to important sensitive information like credit card numbers, social security numbers, or login credentials.
Social Engineering
Social engineering is a type of psychological manipulation that is used to obtain personal information from an individual. Social engineering can be more advanced, such as in the case of voice manipulation. This is when criminals take someone's voice (from a voicemail or social media post, for example) and change it to call friends or family, asking for credit card or other personal information.
Man-in-the-Middle Attack
These types of attacks occur when an individual's device is trying to communicate with a public Wi-Fi, for example, and another party inserts themselves in between the two in order to eavesdrop. If a Wi-Fi connection is unprotected, cyber criminals can view all of a victim's information without being caught.
Zero-day attack
As more time passes, zero-day attacks become more and more common. These types of attacks take place between when a network vulnerability is announced and when a patch is created to fix it. For the sake of transparency and security, most companies announce when they find problems with their network safety; however, some criminals exploit this opportunity to launch attacks before the company has time to create a security patch.
Cybersecurity Basics
A combination of firewalls, software, and a variety of tools can help combat malware that can affect mobile phones and Wi-Fi.
AI for Cybersecurity
Security companies are training artificial intelligence tools to predict data breaches, alert to phishing attempts in real-time and even expose social engineering scams before they become dangerous.
Securing Against Malware
Security against malware is a critical issue that must be addressed. An anti-virus software package is required to prevent any potential damage. Those packages include tools that try to warn a against harmful emails.
Mobile Security
Mobile phones are increasingly at risk for cyber attacks, and this threat is only growing. The top concern among cybersecurity experts is device loss. Leaving our phones at a restaurant or in the back of a rideshare can be dangerous. Cybersecurity tools that will alert or altogether block suspicious activity are used to combat mobile apps that request too many privileges, introduce Trojan viruses or leak personal information.
Web Browser Security & the Cloud
Browser security is the application of protecting internet-connected, networked data from privacy breaches or malware attacks. More advanced tactics for protecting your browser include two-factor authentication, using security-focused browser plug-ins and using encrypted browsers.
Wi-Fi Security
To secure against these attacks, most cybersecurity experts suggest using the most up-to-date software and avoiding password-protected sites that contain personal information. The most secure way to avoid a cyber attack while using public Wi-Fi is to use a VPN.
