7 Types of Cyber Security Threats and How to Prevent Them

Every day, 2,200 cyberattacks are detected globally, and the numbers continue to rise as more businesses transition to a digital workplace. Everyone is a target, regardless of the size of your business or the type of industry. Protect your organisation by implementing consistent cybersecurity measures ASAP!

The first key to protecting your enterprise from cyberattacks is to identify the specific type of threats to which you're vulnerable. This article lists the seven common cybersecurity threats and how to prevent them.

Beware of these Security Threats Targeting Businesses

Knowing what to look out for helps you design security measures that suit you best. Here are the leading security threats that have victimised modern businesses, big or small.

1. Phishing Scams

Phishing scams trick individuals into disclosing personal and valuable information, including bank numbers, passwords, and confidential company information. Here, scammers use fake email addresses or phone numbers, pretending to be associated with a reputable company to gain the trust of their victims.

2. Password Attacks

Password attacks often target web applications and other programs with login portals. Here, attackers bombard the target with massive waves of username and password combinations until they guess the correct logins. People or companies that use weak passwords and predictable usernames are their usual victims.

3. Malware

Malware cybersecurity threats are almost as old as the internet which can be easily detected if your company has cyber security consultant. Malicious software, such as viruses, ransomware, spyware, and worms, can cause a lot of damage to a computer system or an entire database. They can install harmful programs on your system to hack and steal covert information from a database. Even worse, malware can paralyse network components and computer parts and corrupt your important files.

4. Emotet

Emotet, also known as Heodo, is a kind of malware strain. This malicious software is a banking Trojan that can come as spam links, scripts, and document files. These spread over emailing services and are formatted to look like legitimate banking emails, convincing users to share sensitive information. 

5. SQL Injection

An SQL injection attack happens when a malicious code is "injected" into a server that uses the same Structural Query Language. The infection causes an information and data leak. The primary victims of these attacks are websites with a vulnerable search box.

6. Man in the Middle Insertion

MITM attacks involve hackers cleverly injecting themselves into a two-party transaction to steal data. For example, when an internet user connects to an unsecured, public Wi-Fi and accesses sensitive information. MITM hackers can disrupt the traffic and filter out and hack user information. They can also install malicious software to get more. 

7. Denial of Service

DoS attacks target networks or computer systems with the primary goal of shutting them down. Networks and systems under attack are inaccessible to their users. These attacks can disrupt business processes and lead to data loss and major leaks.

Preventing Cyber Security Threats

Cyber security threat prevention is an important investment. Businesses, big or small, should look at hiring managed IT services to safeguard your company's systems, data, and networks. This layer of protection helps shield you from the most common and emerging cyberattacks today. 

Outsourcing your IT services, especially cyber security, can give you an idea of your company's security and vulnerability levels. These specialists will tell you what security issues need your attention. They have tools and resources to help you detect and fight off cyber attackers.  

Cyber security experts will help you recover from these attacks to resume your business operations.