Cybersecurity threats can easily find their way to any computer or device, as long as the user is not familiar with their nature. Maintaining security online is crucial these days when everyone is working remotely and getting important things done from home. The more you’re using the internet to get work done, the more you are opening your data and devices to vulnerabilities. With that in mind, take a look at some of the most common cybersecurity threats you are not aware of.
#1 Phishing Scams
While many people have heard about phishing scams, some are still not familiar with this concept and they end up falling for it quite often. Most people don’t become aware of phishing attacks while they’re happening, mostly because hackers go out of their way to make these methods as efficient as possible. However, phishing most commonly occurs in email environments where hackers pose as someone else to send malicious links and attachments. Make sure not to open any odd or unexpected emails that find their way to your inbox, as these could be carrying a potential threat.
#2 Cryptojacking
Cryptojacking is one of the newest cyber-attack techniques where hackers use people’s devices to mine cryptocurrency without the users being aware of it. What makes cryptojacking such a good option for hackers is that it can be done without much effort on their part. All they have to do is poison links and attachments with malware that records data and lure the targets to unknowingly download those files. The best advice we can give you to avoid this threat is to always double-check the source where the email is coming from.
#3 Spear Phishing
Even though it sounds similar, spear-phishing is not the same as regular phishing we’ve mentioned above. Instead, spear-phishing attacks are usually aimed at organizations and businesses with weak links in the system. These types of threats are planned strictly for financial gain or the spreading of confidential military information. The best thing you can do here is to stay away from suspicious emails and educate employees to notice small red flags in their inbox.
#4 Man-in-the-Middle Attack
Last but not least, the MITM attacks have become quite popular recently where hackers intercept the connection between the website and the user. They use this space to steal the data submitted by the user and thus repurpose it for sales, advertising, or other activities. In case this attack takes place, the information the user submits to the website will never reach the intended site. Instead, these pieces of info will end up in the wrong hands. This can happen thanks to a malicious interruption in your network, which can be caused by a malware that’s been hiding in your system for a while.
These are only five out of dozens of common cybersecurity threats you should be aware of. Keep in mind that each of these threats can be executed on all target sizes – from an individual private user to an entire organization with hundreds of employees. What makes cyber threats so dangerous is that it only takes one mistake to let a malware sneak into the system. Therefore, make sure to use the right cybersecurity measures, stay away from suspicious emails, and activate a VPN to get the best out of online security.
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