The connections formed by computer networks allow access to massive volumes of data. This facilitated the rapid development of technology and the further advancement of our knowledge bases. However, the effect of these connections is not all good. In the wrong hands, these can be used to cause harm. Methods which deliberately exploit computer systems and networks, as well as other enterprises dependent on technology, are known as cyber threats. These schemes are used to commit cybercrimes like identity and information theft.
Here are some of the common types of cyber threats you should be aware of.
Malware Attacks
Malware attacks involve the installation of malicious software such as spyware, ransomware, viruses, and worms without the user knowing. This happens when a user clicks a suspicious link, installing the malware. When the system is compromised, the malware can steal the information in your hard drive. It can also disrupt your system to render it inoperable. Moreover, it can install other malware or malicious software which can further damage your device.
Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks deceive users by sending e-mail which seem to have come from a trustworthy source. By gaining the trust of the user, the attacker can steal credit card information or login credentials. Some emails also have links which installs malware into the user’s system.
Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attacks
Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks overwhelm web servers of organizations by flooding it with information or traffic, rendering it inaccessible to its users. Common targets of DDoS attacks are sites of companies, governments, and banks. While this type of attack doesn’t allow the attacker to steal data, this highly disrupts the operations of these organizations, which translates to huge sums of money and time lost.
Eavesdropping Attacks
Eavesdropping attacks intercepts network traffic. This allows the attacker to steal personal information being sent over the network like your credit card information and passwords.
Password Attacks
Password attacks are executed by employing algorithms which continually guesses the password of users until the correct one is attained. Algorithms can make around hundreds up to thousands of guesses per minute. This is why users should use highly secure passwords which can’t be guessed by these algorithms right out.
SQL Injection Attacks
Structured Query Language (SQL) attacks involve an attacker infecting an SQL-using server with codes or submitting the malicious codes to an unsecure website search box. These codes coerce the server to show information being inputted by the users which are typically personal information.
Man-in-the-middle Attacks
This is when an attacker intercepts the session between a user and a server in order to steal information.
Drive-by Attacks
These types of attacks are executed by implanting malicious script into unsecure websites. Taking advantage of the vulnerabilities the app, website, or operating system being used, drive-by attacks enable the passive installation of malware. This means that a user doesn’t need to click anything to get infected — visiting the website would suffice.
Zero-day exploits
When vulnerabilities are discovered and publicized, it may take some time before a solution is created. A zero-day exploit takes advantage of the revealed vulnerability in the period where the solution has yet to be implemented.
