Criminals invent new ways to poke holes and breach secure data systems and networks. Staying ahead of cyber threats is unrelenting and requires resilient dedication by information security professionals.
Some cyberattacks are small enough to be easily contained. Others, however, can spiral out of control before your team can respond. All attacks require a quick resolution before their harmful intent wreaks complete havoc.
Here are a few examples of threats to your business systems and processes.
Social Engineering
Social engineering attacks are a type of cyber attack that relies on psychological manipulation to trick people into divulging confidential information or performing actions that can compromise their security or the security of an organization.
These attacks exploit human emotions such as fear, curiosity, greed, and trust to trick victims into providing sensitive information, clicking on malicious links, or downloading malware-infected attachments.
Examples of social engineering attacks include phishing emails, vishing (voice phishing) calls, smishing (SMS phishing) attacks, pretexting, baiting, and spear phishing. Attackers can use these techniques to gain access to personal information, steal money or sensitive data, or gain unauthorized access to computer systems or networks.
To avoid falling victim to social engineering attacks, individuals and organizations should be aware of the signs of these attacks, be cautious when sharing sensitive information, and implement security measures such as two-factor authentication and employee awareness training.
Phishing Attacks
As the name implies, hackers commit fraud through emails or other fishing exploits by pretending to be from legitimate companies. The goal is to trick the intended victim into responding so they can steal sensitive data such as credit card numbers and passwords.
These attacks are common among criminals seeking access to corporate environments, usually through an unsuspecting employee. Opening a link is easier to exploit than probing an organization’s defenses for vulnerabilities.
Education and security awareness helps to protect sensitive business assets from these cyber threats. Additionally, you can manage the risk of phishing attacks with security management solutions that can identify and block malicious messages before reaching the inbox.
Malware Attacks
Also commonly referred to as a virus, malware deploys malicious code that can cause serious harm to your network simply by an employee going about their day. For example, they may click on a link or open an infected attachment in an email.
If your current strategy uses signature-based detection or other legacy security solutions, an evolved virus may bypass the technology. The evolution of malware searches for new vulnerabilities to attack almost as soon as your IT team completes successful counterattacks.
Some effective ways to keep malware from infecting your network include:
- Performing regular software and system updates
- Requiring strong passwords and multi-factor authentication to access data and applications
- Educating employees and clients about clicking links or downloading attachments
Malware continues to be a sophisticated, stealthy, and swift tool for cybercrimes. Therefore, you need a strong asset and data security plan. The goal is to prevent a cyber attack against your organization before damage is done.
Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware is a type of malware that steals and holds data hostage, demanding payment to unlock the encryption. This cybercrime often spreads through malicious software applications or email attachments. In some cases, ransomware attacks enter through remote access.
The infection from this attack may also impair a network. Whether data or a network, the ransomware adds an extension that makes accessing files and systems impossible. In addition, the attacker has the key for encryption.
Other common approaches to this extortion include:
- Scareware – pretends to be tech support or security software that may display a pop-up notification telling unsuspecting victims malware was discovered on their system
- Master boot record – encrypts the entire hard drive so no one can access the operating system
- Mobile ransomware – attacks mobile devices to steal data from a smartphone or lock it for a ransom payment, just like what happens with an organization
- Doxware – another attack on individuals where the cyber criminal threatens to publicly humiliate their victim by posting personal information or pictures
Spyware
Spyware is a type of malicious software (malware) designed to collect information from a computer system or network without the user’s knowledge or consent. Spyware is often installed on a user’s computer without their knowledge or by tricking them into installing it, and it can be difficult to detect and remove.
Once installed, spyware can monitor a user’s activity on the computer, track their keystrokes, record their internet browsing history, and even capture sensitive information such as login credentials, credit card numbers, and other personal data. This information can then be sent to a remote attacker who can use it for identity theft, fraud, or other malicious purposes.
Some types of spyware can also modify a user’s computer settings, install additional software, or display unwanted ads or pop-ups. This can slow down the computer, cause it to crash, or make it difficult to use.
To protect against spyware, users should be cautious when downloading and installing software from the internet, use anti-virus and anti-malware software, and regularly update their computer’s operating system and software. Additionally, users should avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading attachments from unknown sources, and they should always use strong passwords and avoid sharing sensitive information online.
Insider Threats
An insider threat is a risk to an organization’s security or data that comes from within the organization itself, such as an employee, contractor, or vendor. Insider threats can be intentional or unintentional and may include theft or destruction of sensitive data, sabotage of systems or networks, or unauthorized access to data.
These threats can be particularly difficult to detect and prevent, as the insider already has access to the organization’s systems and data. Therefore, it is essential for organizations to implement strict security policies, access controls, and employee training programs to mitigate the risk of insider threats.
DDoS Attacks
A DDoS attack (Distributed Denial of Service) is a type of cyber attack in which a large number of compromised computers or devices (known as a botnet) are used to flood a targeted website, server, or network with traffic, overwhelming its capacity and causing it to become inaccessible to legitimate users. Hackers or cybercriminals often launch DDoS attacks to disrupt the operations of a website or service, extort money, or exact revenge.
There are several types of DDoS attacks, including volumetric attacks, which flood the targeted system with massive amounts of data, and application-layer attacks, which target specific weaknesses in web applications or services. To protect against DDoS attacks, organizations can use specialized DDoS mitigation services, deploy firewalls and intrusion prevention systems, and implement network segmentation and redundancy to minimize the impact of an attack.
Injection Attacks
An injection attack is a type of cyber attack where an attacker exploits vulnerabilities in a computer application or website to inject malicious code into its systems. The attacker uses specially crafted input data to manipulate the application or website’s behavior, execute unauthorized commands, or access sensitive data.
Injection attacks can take several forms, including SQL injection attacks, where an attacker inserts malicious SQL commands into a vulnerable application, and command injection attacks, where an attacker injects malicious code into the command line of a system to execute arbitrary commands.
Injection attacks can have severe consequences, such as data breaches, data loss, and system compromise. In addition, hackers often use them to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information, steal identities, or execute other attacks. To prevent injection attacks, organizations should implement security measures such as input validation, secure coding practices, and security testing to identify and patch vulnerabilities.
Man-in-the-Middle Attacks
A man-in-the-middle (MitM) attack is a type of cyber attack where an attacker intercepts communications between two parties, such as a user and a server, to eavesdrop, steal data, or manipulate communication. In a MitM attack, the attacker positions themselves between the two parties to intercept and monitor the traffic. The attacker can then view or modify the data being exchanged between the parties without either party’s knowledge.
MitM attacks can be executed in several ways, including rogue Wi-Fi hotspots, malware, or DNS spoofing. Once the attacker has intercepted the communication, they can eavesdrop, steal data, or modify the communication to inject malicious content or instructions.
MitM attacks can have severe consequences, such as identity theft, data loss, and financial fraud. To protect against MitM attacks, users and organizations should use secure and encrypted communication protocols, use trusted Wi-Fi networks, and keep their software and systems up to date with the latest security patches. Additionally, implementing strong authentication mechanisms, such as multi-factor authentication, can help prevent attackers from gaining unauthorized access to systems or data.
