What kind of threats does cyber security face today? How can you protect yourself from them? Let us discuss cyber security threats types below.
The threat landscape has changed dramatically over the last decade. Today, cyber-attacks are no longer limited to large organizations or governments. They can affect anyone at any time.
Cybersecurity threats come in various forms such as malware, phishing, ransomware, denial of service attacks, etc. These threats can cause significant damage to businesses and individuals alike.
Let us discuss cyber security threats types below.
Cyber Security Threats Types
1. Malware
Malware is a major threat that causes serious damage to the security of your system. In addition, malware comes in various forms such as spyware, worms, viruses, Trojan horses, ransomware, and adware.
2. Phishing
Phishing is one of the most common cyber threats. In addition, phishing attacks are carried out by hackers who seek to gain access to confidential information such as credit card details, bank account details, and passwords of an individual or a company.
3. Ransomware
Ransomware is malicious software that locks down your system’s data and threatens to destroy it unless a ransom is paid in Bitcoin currency. Also, ransomware attacks have increased significantly over the last few years.
4. Denial of Service Attacks (DoS)
A denial of service attack (DoS) is designed to make a service unavailable to its intended users by flooding the targeted computer system with superfluous requests in an attempt to overload it.
5. Pharming Attacks
Pharming attacks are carried out by hackers with the motive of redirecting Internet traffic from legitimate websites to fake websites which they control. These fake websites may ask you for personal information such as your credit card details, bank account details, and passwords which they can use for fraudulent activities without your knowledge.
6. Cyber Attacks on Businesses
Businesses of all sizes can be victims of cyber attacks by hackers who seek to steal sensitive data such as client databases, employee data, etc., or hold data for ransom in exchange for money.
7. Cyber Attacks on Government Organizations
Government organizations including national defense agencies can be targeted by cyber terrorists who might seek to cause physical harm to people or information systems or steal confidential government data and sell it on the black market or use it for nefarious purposes like espionage or blackmailing governments or threatening national security or creating mass panic among people through social media channels etc.
8. Many of us are guilty of clicking on links sent to us on our email accounts.
These links can be harmful and can lead to cyber attacks such as phishing, ransomware, etc. When you receive an email that makes you suspicious, do not click on any links and instead contact the sender via another channel (phone call or text message) to check if they sent you a link.
9. Cyber Attacks on Home Users
Home users are also becoming victims of cyber attacks. Hackers send malicious software via emails which the user unknowingly installs onto his/her system and because of this their computer is infected by malware and viruses that may steal their data or hold them for ransom in exchange for money or destroy their files etc.
10. Cyber Attacks on the Internet of Things (IoT)
Internet of Things (IoT) is becoming a major cause for concern for cyber security professionals as they are vulnerable to cyber attacks from hackers who might seek to gain access to sensitive information related to the IoT devices themselves or use them for nefarious purposes like creating DDoS attacks to bring down the internet or hack into government agencies or businesses etc.