Nowadays, cybersecurity breaches are not only common but remarkably costly too – in 2021, the average price tag of a data breach exceeded 4 million dollars. Fortunately, it is entirely possible to boost your cybersecurity effort and avoid such enormous losses. But to do it correctly, first, you need to understand the cybersecurity threats you can encounter in 2022.
One of the most common threats you should be aware of is ransomware. You should also check your online correspondence for phishing attempts and regularly manage your passwords to prevent password attacks.
Unfortunately, there is always a risk of an insider attack, so remember to always monitor the access to your data storage. Finally, unpatched software or devices could serve as an easy entry point for hackers or other unwanted guests. Read on and help yourself understand the nature of those threats!
Ransomware
Ransomware is one of the most common cybersecurity threats. It takes the form of malicious software that infiltrates your system and blocks it until you pay for “unlocking.” In some of the cases, the attackers demanded millions of dollars to unlock the files. Of course, paying cybercriminals is never a guarantee of recovering your systems, so it’s best to learn to recognize potential ransomware attempts.
Be careful with the email attachments you open. Even if it looks like legitimate business correspondence, be sure to check if it is coming from a trustworthy source. Use reliable anti-malware software and always keep it turned on. Also, be careful with your online activity. You should never enter your personal information without being 100% sure of the website’s credibility, and you should avoid clicking on suspicious links or downloading unknown files.
Most importantly, keep a backup of all important data files. In case of a ransomware attack, you will be able to recover your data without having to pay anything.
The most reliable way to store those backups is to upload them to the cloud using cloud computing services. These offer you a very high level of protection from cyberattacks, no matter if you’re using cloud computing for higher education, business or even governmental purposes. The service provider itself guarantees the safety of your data.
Phishing
Phishing is a common cybersecurity threat. It works by tricking you into giving out your personal information or downloading malware that steals your sensitive data. You can recognize phishing emails because they usually include typos, bad grammar, and spelling errors.
They may also ask you to share personal information or ask you to transfer funds to a bank account. The best way to protect yourself from phishing attacks is to learn how to spot them – a lot of them are absurd, offering you millions of dollars to perform a simple action like giving your credentials or clicking on a link. Also, don’t open attachments unless you know absolutely for sure where they came from.
Password Attacks
You might have already been a victim of password attacks, especially if you weren’t cautious with how you manage your passwords. Hackers can steal your credentials by installing malware on your devices in order to steal your passwords, or they can simply brute force it.
For the second issue, the best solution is to make your password long and complicated and avoid basing it on any easily discoverable detail from your life e.g., the second name of your child.
Also, remember to regularly change your work-related passwords. Also, avoid using the same password for multiple accounts. If you use the same password for all your devices and accounts, you will be a lot more vulnerable if it gets stolen.
Insider Threats
Insider attacks are among the most common cybersecurity threats these days. They usually occur when an employee or a contractor steals sensitive data from his employer or passes it to competitors.
To protect against such threats, you should always check the background of prospective employees and contractors. Make sure they don’t have a criminal record and do not belong to hacking groups or other criminal organizations. Regularly check their social media accounts for signs of inappropriate behavior, like boasting about their illicit successes.
Another source of insider attacks is the disgruntled former employees. To avoid this, always deactivate their access to the network and their devices when they leave the company.
Unpatched Software
Last but not least, you should be aware of the dangers of running unpatched software or using vulnerable hardware. Hackers can exploit such vulnerabilities in order to infect your computer with malware that steals your sensitive data.
To prevent the infection from happening in the first place, remember to always update your programs and work devices to the current versions (as they often contain the latest security patches).
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