Do you feel safe when using technology? Or do you fear that your private data might end up compromised by hackers? Well, if you’re not so sure what cybersecurity threats are out there, keep reading below to learn more about them and how to protect yourself against them.
The Internet has become a scary place lately. As technology is more and more integrated into our day-to-day lives, cybersecurity threats are on the rise as well. Users these days share more data than ever before. And, the worst thing is that most of them are unsuspicious and unaware of what harm this can bring to them if they fail to protect their devices or accounts from hackers.
Cybersecurity threats are real, and they are only growing and becoming more complex by the day. What’s more, they don’t only target businesses and brands, but average individuals as well. What can they do to you? From compromising your devices to wreaking havoc in your finances and privacy by stealing your personal data for suspicious or illegal activities.
What are these cybersecurity threats that you should protect yourself from? Keep reading below to find out the top seven cybersecurity risks you are exposed to and the ways you can protect yourself from them.
1. Computer virus
Computer viruses are among the most common and widespread cybersecurity risk. They can affect everyone who owns a computer, not just big corporations.
These viruses are programs written to negatively impact the way computers operate and are designed to do so without the user, even knowing it or permitting it. Using these viruses, hackers can damage the data you have in your device. They can either delete it or access it and use it in malicious activities.
2. Spyware threats
Another common and dangerous cybersecurity risk are spyware threats. Some people would argue that spyware threats are the worst risk out there on the web, especially because they can allow hackers to operate unknowingly.
Spyware threats use programs that allow hackers to monitor users’ online activities. They also allow hackers to install programs on the victims’ devices without their consent and without the user even knowing it. A spyware threat means that hackers get access to your personal information, including your address, name, or bank information.
After stealing all these data, hackers can use your personal or financial information for illegal or other suspicious activities.
3. Botnets
Botnets are a cybersecurity threat that can affect you both directly and indirectly.
The Internet security experts from TechRobot explain, “Botnets are basically a collection of internet-connected devices which hackers infect with malware. These botnets are then sent to users’ devices to infect them and allow hackers access to the device from their end.”
Using botnets, hackers can steal data and identity theft, cause device hijacking or conduct DDoS attacks through their victims’ devices.
4. Phishing
Did you get an email that contains a link from a person or a company that you don’t know? If yes, don’t open that link because you’ll become a victim of phishing.
Phishing is basically a threat that comes to users in the form of phone calls or emails from fake people or businesses who pretend to be trustworthy and reliable. Obviously, in reality, that’s not the case. The fake person or business reaching out to you is likely conducting a phishing scam and is hoping for you to open the link they send you. Once opened, the link installs viruses in your device, allowing hackers to get access to your data.
Phishers reach out to people with a similar goal in mind: to steal their personal and bank information and use them to wreak havoc in their victims’ privacy and finances.
5. Cloud jacking
If you own a small business, you should also pay attention to cloud jacking attacks. As businesses increasingly rely on cloud computing for their activities, this cybersecurity threat is expected to emerge as one of the most prominent risks.
This threat happens in the form of a code injection either directly to the code or through a third-party library, targeting cloud platforms.
Through cloud jacking, hackers can take control over or modify sensitive files and data that your small business stores in the cloud.
6. Insider threats
Another cybersecurity threat, targeting businesses in particular, is insider threats.
you don’t think that one of your employees or colleagues could betray you? think twice! Data from the Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report suggests that 34% of data breaches in a company involve internal actors. And, make no mistake, that doesn’t just mean malicious attacks where in-house people are involved. Insider threats can also mean negligent use of systems and data by employees.
7. Mobile Malware
As more and more Internet users migrate from desktop devices to mobile devices such as their smartphones, the amount of data stored on mobile devices is getting larger by the day. Unsurprisingly, hackers tailored their attacks to where they can now find the greatest amount of data.
Mobile malware is basically malicious software that has been designed to target mobile operating systems specifically.
As all Internet users perform more and more tasks on their smartphones, it’s only a matter of time before mobile malware becomes one of the most common cybersecurity risks, targeting all smartphone users.
Ways to stay safe when surfing the web
- Create strong and complex passwords for all your accounts.
- Use different passwords for all your accounts.
- Install antivirus software on all your devices.
- Backup all your systems and data.
- Use two-factor identification for all your accounts.
- Don’t open links or attachments from unknown or untrusted
