What is a cyber-attack?
A cyber-attack is a deliberate act of aggression against a computer or network. The attacker may attempt to gain access to confidential data or to damage or disable the system. Cyber-attacks can target anything from individual computer systems to entire networks. They can also target a variety of different components, including operating systems applications, data, networks, systems administrators, and users.
There is no one answer to why people launch cyber-attacks. Some of the reasons include financial gain, political motivations, revenge, or simply to cause chaos. Often, attackers are looking for ransom: over 50% of cyber-attacks resulted in damages of $500,000 or more.
Types of cyber-attacks
There are many different types of cyber-attacks, but some of the most common ones include:
Denial of service (DoS) attacks
In a DoS attack, the attacker floods the target system with requests, so that it can’t respond to legitimate requests from legitimate users. This can be done either by sending a lot of traffic to the target system, or by using a botnet to send requests.
Malware attacks
Malware is software that is designed to harm or take control of a computer system. Malware can include viruses, worms, trojans, and ransomware.
Phishing attacks
Phishing attacks are attempts to steal information such as login credentials or financial information by sending fraudulent emails or text messages.
Social engineering attacks
Social engineering attacks are attempts to exploit human vulnerabilities in order to gain access to systems or information. For example, a social engineering attack might involve tricking someone into revealing their login credentials or installing malware on their computer.
SQL injection attacks
SQL injection attacks are a type of malware that exploit vulnerabilities in SQL databases. They allow the attacker to inject SQL commands into the database, which can be used to steal data or take control of the database.
Zero-day exploit
A zero-day exploit is a computer security vulnerability that is unknown to the software vendor or the security community at large. Zero-day exploits are so named because they exist for a zero-day or the number of days between when a vulnerability is discovered and when a vendor releases a patch. Zero-day exploits are highly sought after by cybercriminals and nation-states because they can be used to gain access to systems without being detected. The discovery and use of zero-day exploits is a cat-and-mouse game between security researchers and cybercriminals. As soon as a new exploit is discovered, it should be quickly patched by the vendor. However, new exploits are constantly being discovered, so the cycle continues.
How to Protect Your Business Against Cyber Attacks
Cyber-attacks are a serious threat to businesses of all sizes. Here are some tips for protecting your business against it.
- Install a firewall and antivirus software. A firewall is software or hardware that helps protect your computer or network from unauthorized access. Antivirus software helps protect your computer from viruses, malware, and other online threats.
- Create strong passwords. Your passwords should be strong and unique. Don’t use the same password for multiple accounts.
- Update your software and operating system. Make sure you keep your software and operating system up to date. This includes your firewall, antivirus software, and other security software.
- Educate your employees about cyber security. Make sure your employees are aware of the dangers of cyber-attacks and how to protect themselves.
- Back up your data. Back up your data regularly so you can restore it if it’s ever lost or damaged.
- Use a secure Wi-Fi network. When you’re using Wi-Fi, make sure you’re connecting to a secure network. Don’t use public Wi-Fi networks unless you’re using a VPN.
- Use strong encryption. Make sure your data is encrypted so it’s protected from hackers.
- Use a secure email service. When sending or receiving emails, make sure you’re using a secure email service.
- Don’t open suspicious emails. Be careful about opening emails from unknown senders. They may contain malware or other viruses.
- Use a secure payment gateway. When making online payments, make sure you’re using a secure payment gateway.
Also, do not forget about using security monitoring tools to detect abnormal or unauthorized activity, review logs, and event data to look for signs of malicious activity, and use intrusion detection or prevention systems to identify malicious traffic or patterns of activity.
At AI Web Security, we will help you to audit the risks of cybersecurity attacks that could be taken against your web applications or external network. For more information about our services please contact us and ask for a quote.