What is cyber security? Types of cyber security and cyber security threats #2021

Our world lives, works, and plays on the internet. While the internet increases our access and efficiency, it also offers a bevy of new threats, including cyber-hacking, cyber-attacks, and the need for cybersecurity.

Professionals in cybersecurity are constantly defending computer systems against many forms of cyberattacks. Every day, cyber-attacks target corporations and private systems, and the type of attacks are rapidly expanding. Cyber-attacks have a variety of motivations. Money is one of them. Cybercriminals may take a system offline and demand cash to reactivate it.

Ransomware, a type of cyberattack that demands money in order to restore services, is more advanced than ever. Individuals, as well as corporations, are vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Because we save personal information on our mobile phones and use unsecured public networks. So, our mobile phones can also be hacked.

Everyone is a target of these cyberattacks, but small companies are one of the most popular targets. Fortunately, there is software and internet security that may aid defend your company from fraudsters.

In this post, I’ll go over the most significant cybersecurity threats for 2021, as well as what your team can do to avoid them. But before moving further, we will discuss Cybersecurity.

What is Cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity is the protection of computers, programs, devices, and data from cyber-attacks. Cybersecurity has become an integral part of our lives. Its goal is to limit the risk of cyber-attacks and secure systems, networks, and technology from unauthorized use.

Thankfully, many businesses are working to improve their cybersecurity systems. Big companies like Google, Apple, and Microsoft regularly upgrade their apps. Governments are also realizing the necessity to invest in server security and classified data protection.

Here are the top cybersecurity threats in 2021

Phishing

Phishing is one of the most popular cyberattacks due to the rise of email and instant messaging.

Every day, office workers get hundreds of emails and electronic communications. Humans are prone to make poor judgments when their thoughts grow exhausted toward the end of the workday, and their thoughts feel overworked. Attackers are aware of this, and some use it as an opportunity to spam employees with fake emails and social network profiles.

After all, all it takes is one person to make a mistake for a hacker to compromise a company’s integrity.

SMS-based Phishing (Smishing)

At first look, SMS-based phishing (also known as “Smishing“) may appear to be similar to other types of phishing, but there are some major distinctions. Smishing is a type of phishing that occurs through text messages sent to your phone rather than through emails or web surfing.

In this threat, the attackers try to hack the device through SMS text messages. Although opening the text message does not initiate the assault, it does contain a link. When you click the link, the attack begins. Why are SMS-based phishing attacks becoming more popular than classic email phishing attacks?

Many email clients, such as Google or Microsoft Outlook, are capable of detecting phishing emails and classifying them as spam. As a result, most phishing efforts go unnoticed by the ordinary email user.

However, anyone may get a text message and click on that!

What are some of the most prevalent smishing attacks?

• You receive a message from “your bank” requesting your social security number.
• A message from a “delivery carrier” requesting that you schedule a product delivery.
• Other organizations may require you to follow a link or provide personal information.

PDF Scams

Similar to phishing, PDF scams have one goal in mind:  To get you to open an attached PDF. It involves sending an email with a message, usually noting that a security policy has been changed or that an account statement has been attached.

When you open the attached PDF, however, your machine is infected with spyware or ransomware. Scams involving PDF files are more effective than email scams.

People are suspicious of emails that urge them to open a link, so PDF scammers know this.

People are more likely to open a PDF if they believe it is a financial statement or a news article.

PDF attachments are often shared in the office via email, Slack, and other messaging systems. Because PDFs are associated with business, we are more inclined to relax our guard and open them.

Malware & Ransomware

We’ve already spoken about how damaging malware and ransomware can be when they attack a computer system. Data loss, frozen systems, and software hijacking are just a few of the issues.

Hackers are aware that every company stores data on servers connected to the internet. They only require a single weakness in your security to carry out the attack.

Pitney Bowes Inc., sadly, I have firsthand experience with this.  Pitney Bowes Inc. provides e-commerce, shipping logistics, and mailing services to small companies. They were the target of a malware attack in early 2019. Despite the fact that there was no proof that client information had been taken, the virus made the company’s systems unusable. Customers were unable to upload transactions, access their accounts, due to technical difficulties.

Credential Stuffing

Credential stuffing is a type of attack that involves stealing a user’s login credentials. When the same login credentials are used for several sites or accounts, this is the most usual scenario. Credential stuffing is the most significant threat in 2021, with the majority of programs being online.

Canada Post became the target of attackers by credential stuffing in 2017. The actual number of affected accounts was not clear. But Canada Post took the immediate decision and reset all of its users’ passwords.

Most of the customers utilized the same login credentials across several sites. So, attackers easily accessed their accounts.

Accidental Sharing

We’ve all seen it happen, and it might have happened to you as well. When you just wanted to reply to one or two individuals, but you hit the dreaded “Reply All” button. Suddenly, everyone in the office knows how you really feel about your employer or manager! A similar issue is accidental sharing.

Accidental sharing is the sharing or leaking information unintentionally or without knowing. It involves personal or business information. You may leak this kind of data while working or chatting through emails, chats, and a variety of other methods.

So, these are the most significant cybersecurity threats in 2021.