Information and technology have developed over the years and so has the threats of a cyber-attack. 2019 will see new types of such attacks which will call for specific type of cyber security to secure your company data and sensitive files.
In order to know about the types of attacks and deal with them successful, you will however need to start from the basics and know what a cyber security attack will look like in 2019 and how you can identify one easily.
Any cyber security attack, also known as a computer network attack CNA, can destroy your business in one night and therefore if you want a cyber security defense you will need to understand the best offense.
• A cyber-attack is actually an intentional manipulation of the computer systems, the networks, and the technology-dependent enterprises.
• These attacks usually use malicious codes to modify your computer code, logic and data ending into a destructive consequence.
• It can not only compromise your data but can also promulgate different types of cybercrimes including info and identity theft.
Since the methods of such attacks are different, you will need different prevention strategies to protect your company data.
Cyberattacks can affect any computer system whether it is your personal computer, that of the Nasa or the Pentagon and even swipe away money and information from banks and other sources.
The attacks are made by planting a virus in your computers systems through spams, unwanted and unsolicited yet alluring emails and others. It is for this reason you are always advised to log into site that has an additional S with the HTTP ensuring that the site is secured. This is a mandatory requirement by the search engines now. Therefore, always login to sites of reliable and reputable company such as NationalDebtRelief.com instead of some phony sites.
The phishing attacks
Phishing attacks is the most common type of cybersecurity attacks. This is actually a type of social engineering used to steal user data such as login credentials or even credit card numbers.
This happens when the attacker wiles the victim by posing as a trusted individual and makes them open a particular text message, instant message or an email. When opened, the malicious link causes freezing of the system due to ransomware attack. These attacks can cause disastrous results for an individual such as:
- Identity theft
- Unauthorized purchases and even
- Stealing of funds.
Phishing attacks is considered to be an APT or Advanced Persistent Threat when it happens in governmental or corporate networks. The employees are compromised in such cases and access to secured data, or bypassing of security parameters, and distribution of malware is done in a closed environment with privileged access.
Phishing attacks can be of two specific types such as:
• Spear phishing attack aimed at particular individual or organization through an email to gain unauthorized access to vital information such as trade secrets, military intelligence or financial gains.
• A whale phishing attack is that which is done on high-profile employees such as the CEO or CFO of a company for stealing vital information from them as they have unlimited access to sensitive information due to their high posts.
All these attacks can be lessened and its effectiveness reduce by the system security administrators. The corporate management staff may also be encouraged to attend security awareness training to identify such threats and act accordingly.
Malware attacks
Malware or malevolent software is an attack where a code is made to affect a system of the user stealthily without the consent. There are different types of malware such as:
- Ransomware
- Spyware
- Command and Control.
Malware can spread across the entire network and cause damages and changes. It can remain undetectable and persistent in the compromised system till it destroys the network completely.
Common methods of delivering malware involves:
- A drive-by attack
- Trojan Horses
- SQL Injection
- Cross Site Scripting and others.
Ransomware usually blocks access to the data and typically threatens to delete it if a ransom is not paid. This is carried out through a Trojan sending a payload camouflaged as a genuine file.
Denial of service attack
Distributed Denial-of-Service or DDoS attack is one that shuts down a network or a service making it inaccessible to the intended users. These attacks are accomplished by overwhelming the service or network with traffic or loads of info that results in a crash. It is often used as a combination to divert from other network attacks.
A DoS onslaught may deny access to even legitimate users such as account holders, employees and members.
These are targeted at servers of s of high-profile establishments such as:
- Government
- Trade organizations
- Media companies
- Banking and
- Commerce.
It can come in different forms such as:
- Password attacks
- An eavesdropping attack and
- Birthday attacks.
However, these attacks do not result in any loss or theft of assets and vital information but it will cost the victim a lot of time and money to mitigate DDoS attack.
Brute-force and dictionary network attacks
These are networking attacks made to log into the account of a user by trying and systematically checking all possible passwords until the correct one is found. The attacker may also create suspicious logs, unpatched entry, or trip IDS signatures.
The term brute-force is used because these attacks overpower the system through repetition by using a dictionary software. It combines the dictionary words with thousands of different variations.
However, this is a slower process and is often considered to be less glamorous by the attackers. It may several hours and thousands of attempts per minute to crack the password eventually. It is therefore advised that critical resources such as routers, servers and network switches follow the password best practices.
The latest ones
Wrapping it up with the latest types of cybersecurity attacks, you will also encounter Man-in-the-Middle or MITM attacks which is ideally done to eavesdrop a communication and even controls the entire communication.
AI powered attacks is the most sophisticated and scary as this can hack autonomous vehicles, drones and others converting them into a potential weapon!
Therefore, find a good defense mechanism to be prepared for attacks on your network.
