As technology develops, we depend on it more and more with each passing day. Unfortunately, in lieu of all the good things that have come from tech development, a few bad things have also come out. Of course, we are talking about an increasing number cyber attacks around the world.
Cyber attacks have become an everyday occurrence in this day and age. Malicious hackers who want to steal information and even money make efforts to do precisely that and come up with new ways to do so. Because of that, no one is truly safe online, especially businesses.
One way you can protect yourself from hackers without doing anything is by hosting your website with a trusted hosting provider. Also, you can get a managed plan where everything will be taken care of by professionals. If you look into these plans more, you will discover that managed WordPress hosting and other similar managed hosting solutions can be a great start for creating a safe website. It helps to have your business website and blog backed up in the cloud and protected by unsavory cyberattacks.
However, having secure hosting in place will not be enough for you to protect yourself fully. So, in this article, we will go over some of the most common cyber attacks and provide tips on how to avoid them.
Let’s begin learning more about cyber crime prevention!
Types Of Cyber Attacks
There are quite a few different types of cyber-attacks you can experience online. However, not all of them are common, so we will go through the most common types that most people can experience.
● Malware Attacks – malware attacks happen when malicious software is installed on your devices. That kind of software can disrupt or steal data directly from your computer, network, or server. It is one of the most commonly-used attacks and gives hackers access to all your data and even allows them to take control of your devices.
● Man-In-The-Middle Attacks – this type of attack happens when hackers intercept data or compromise your network to spy on you. These are especially common when someone is using a public WiFi network because such networks can be easily hacked. With this attack, hackers can intercept your communication and pretend to be the person you want to reach. They can also capture the login information of your various social media and bank accounts. You can learn more about Man-In-The-Middle attacks here.
● Phishing Attacks – hackers do these cyber attacks by sending fraudulent emails and texts and making fake phone calls. The messages look like they are from an official business or from someone you know. When sending these messages, the hackers usually request sensitive information that you might need to give to a business partner or a certain company. They can also send links and tell you to click them, and by doing so, you will probably download malware to your device or be directed to a phishing site that can steal your information.
● DDoS And DOS Attacks – a DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack happens when hackers overwhelm your systems by creating fake traffic and requests, causing them to shut down. A DOS (Denial of Service) attack is similar, except that the hacker only targets one system, whereas, with a DDoS attack, hackers use multiple breached devices simultaneously. DDoS attacks are usually done to shut down business operations rather than to steal sensitive information.
● SQL Injection Attacks – a wide range of websites use SQL databases to store sensitive information like passwords, logins, and bank account information. With an SQL injection attack, hackers trick the database into giving them that information.
Cyber Attack Protection Measures
Now that you know what the most common attacks you can face are, we will share some tips on how you can protect yourself from them.
● Get Antivirus Software – the first thing that anyone who is present online should do is install antivirus software on their devices. Also, make sure that the software also comes with malware protection. That way, when you click a link, hackers will be denied the possibility of installing malware and other types of viruses on your devices.
● Use More Complicated Passwords – even though remembering passwords is here, make sure that all passwords you use are complicated and not easily hackable. Don’t use your name, birthday, or other information that can be found easily online. Also, don’t use the same password for everything or you increase your risks of being hacked.
● Enable Multi-Factor Authentication – multi-factor authentication (MFA) or 2 factor authentication (2FA) is another layer of security you can add to your accounts in addition to passwords. Usually, they require the person who is trying to access an account to type in a code sent to them via SMS or an authenticator app. And if you are the only one that has access to your phone or the authenticator app, no one but you will have the needed code to access your accounts.
There are many other ways to protect yourself from cyber-attacks and avoid them before they even reach you. To learn more about this, check out the ten most common cyber security measures you can use to keep hackers away.
Cybersec Conclusion
Protecting yourself from cyber threats is imperative, especially if you have sensitive information on your devices that you don’t want to share with anyone. And, let’s face it, we all have such information on our phones and computers, whether it is online banking apps, private communication channels, etc.
You can avoid all of the most common cyber attacks easily by implementing some of the tips we shared in this article. So, don’t wait around and make sure you are protected from cyber criminals!