In recent years, cybercrime has become a major global threat. Every business must take measures to protect itself against cyber threats, which are becoming more prevalent and sophisticated.
Protection is key for business continuity, but also for abiding by the latest data security laws. This post will explore a few of the most common cyber threats you need to be aware of.
Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks are the most common form of cyber attack, but they are also becoming more sophisticated. Essentially, this involves an attacker posing as a trustworthy organisation and tricking the user into downloading a malicious file, visiting a malicious website, and/or revealing sensitive data.
Employees should have up-to-date training so that they are aware of phishing attacks and know how to detect them, but you should also have strong anti-malware software installed in case of a successful attack.
Insider Threats
No business owner thinks it will happen to them, but insider threats can be a serious issue. These are threats that originate from an authorised user, such as an employee or contractor. Insider threats can be intentional, such as a disgruntled employee, or simply negligent, such as falling for a phishing attack.
Employee training is key for preventing negligent insider threats, while data authorisation is helpful for controlling who has access to what - this means you can keep sensitive information secure by only granting access to those who require it. You can also speak with data protection lawyers for advice on data protection.
Malware Infections
Malware infections can take many forms, including viruses, trojans, and spyware. Signs you have a malware infection include frequent computer crashes, unauthorised changes to system settings, suspicious network activity, and antivirus alerts.
To prevent malware, you need to install antivirus software, update your operating system, avoid downloading files or clicking links from unknown sources, and enable firewalls.
Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware attacks are becoming increasingly prevalent, particularly with data being such a valuable asset in today’s day and age. Ransomware attacks, as the name suggests, involve a cybercriminal holding data ransom by encrypting it.
They will only release the data if a ransom is paid, but of course, there is no guarantee that they will do this. Prevention is key with ransomware, so you should use antivirus software, keep software up to date, and use strong passwords and MFA.
Backing up data is also critical, as this means you will always have another version available.
These are a few of the main cyber threats that you need to be aware of and take action to prevent. Cybercrime is a growing threat, with criminals using advanced tactics and technologies, and a successful attack can cause significant damage in several ways.
Hopefully, the information in this post will help you develop strong protection so that you can prevent cybercrime and have peace of mind.
