6 Common Cyber Security Threats & How To Spot Them

Cyber security threats – or a cyber attack – is an attempt by an individual or organization to deliberately and maliciously access a computer network or system of another, usually with the purpose of stealing intellectual property (IP) or customer data, accessing sensitive company resources, or to destroy data.

Cyber attacks can target a wide range of people from individual users, small or large businesses and even governments. Staying vigilant and safe is important when working online to protect yourself or the company you work for.

Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to study a cybersecurity masters online which can provide the relevant knowledge to help avoid these security threats. Never fear though – we have listed the top six most common cyber security threats and ways in which you can help spot or avoid them.

1. Malware

Malware is a term to describe malicious software or programs that’s purpose is to do harm to a network or server. While traditional forms of malware appear to be losing traction in the current climate, cybercriminals are changing their tactics and focusing their attention on attacks via email and Internet of Things (IoT – more on this later).

Malware is a broad term that can encompass many types of software including spyware, ransomware, viruses, trojan, botnet, exploits and worms. Once inside a system, malware can:

• Block user access to components of the network (ransomware)
• Install harmful software
• Obtain information by transmitting data from a hard drive (spyware)
• Render the system inoperable
• Disguise malware as native operating system programs (trojan)
• Replicate itself and spread copies to other computers (worm)

Your best defense against malware is to have appropriate security software downloaded on your computer and ensure it is kept up-to-date.

2. Denial-of-Services Attacks

A Denial-of-Services (DoS) attack is a malicious attack that floods a network with false requests in order to disrupt day-to-day business operations. This means a business may not be able to perform routine tasks such as accessing emails or websites. DoS attacks often come with a ransom demand, and while more often than not it can be resolved without paying, it will cost a company time and other resources.

A Distributed-Denial-of-Services (DDoS) attack is a similar cyber attack, however while a DoS originates from a single system, DDoS attacks are launched from multiple systems, making it a faster attack and much harder to neutralize.

3. Phishing

Phishing is an extremely popular type of cyberattack where the attacker will send fraudulent communications that appear to come from a reputable source. The attacker may attempt contact via SMS, phone, social media or most commonly via email, with the goal to entice the victim to share sensitive information such as bank account details or passwords.

Phishing emails and text often tell a story to entice you to click or open a link or attachment. Stay vigilant and look for signs that the communication may not be legit including a generic greeting, mentions of account or billing problems alongside requests for your personal information, attachments or links, or email addresses that at first glance appear legit, but upon closer inspection include spelling errors or other subtle differences.

If you are really unsure, Google the company and find their direct contact details to get in touch.

Spoofing

Spoofing is similar to phishing where an attacker will disguise themselves, however in this instance they will pretend to be a known or trusted source. Email spoofing involves forged sender addresses that may appear to come from a work colleague or more often a higher level executive, with the goal to extract information, extort money or install malware on the device.

Spoofing can also be done at a domain level, where an attacker might impersonate an entire business with a fake website. In both email and domain spoofing cases, look for subtle differences in the domain or email address, as well as inaccurate depictions of a brand (blurry logos, incorrectly sized imagery etc.).

Man-in-the-middle attack

Man-in-the-middle attacks occur when an attacker inserts themselves into a two-party transaction and essentially eavesdrops on the conversation. A common point of entry for a man-in-the-middle attack is between an unsecure public Wi-Fi network and the visitor’s device, whereby the visitor will unwittingly pass all information through to the attacker.

To avoid a man-in-the-middle attack, do not use unsecure networks where possible.

IoT-Based Attacks

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the collective network of connected devices and technology that can communicate between themselves and the cloud. An IoT-based attack will attempt to control one of these devices to steal data or join a group of infected devices to create a system to launch DoD or DDoS attacks.

According to Check Point, the first two months of 2023 saw a 41% rise in the average number of weekly attacks targeting IoT devices compared to 2022. To protect yourself or a business against IoT-based attacks, only purchase reputable IoT devices, practice password complexity and ensure devices are updated with the latest security software.