Cyber attacks can have devastating effects on a business and its bottom line. While it’s easy to think of cyber attacks as something that only happens to large companies, it’s important to remember that both small and medium-sized businesses are also at risk of being targeted and having their sensitive information stolen online. By researching the most common types of cyberattacks, you can defend yourself against them and ensure your personal information and computer network are safe.
Common Cyber Attacks
Protecting your computer network starts with taking preventative measures. To help you do this, here are the five most common types of cyberattacks in descending order of their frequency, along with tips on how to defend against them.
1. Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malicious software (or malware) that can infect your computer and block access to your data unless you pay a ransom. For example, if ransomware infects your computer, it may lock down all or part of your system with a password or encryption that you have to pay to unlock. The experts at pittsburgh network support warn that ransomware has become an increasingly popular method for cybercriminals—especially those who hack into corporate networks—to make money without selling anything. As long as people continue paying up, they’ll keep hacking away. Even worse, some types of ransomware are so good at covering their tracks that even antivirus software doesn’t stand a chance of getting rid of them.
2. Brute Force
Brute force attacks on passwords are not as common as they used to be, but it’s still something you should be aware of. This is a very simple form of cyber attack where an attacker attempts to gain access to a website, server, application, or database by systematically trying to guess passwords and usernames until access is gained. Brute force attacks are typically automated and can be carried out by anyone with basic knowledge of hacking techniques. Since brute force attacks use large numbers of guesses per second to rapidly guess valid credentials, they can become extremely difficult to defend against.
3. Phishing
In a phishing attack, cybercriminals use phishing emails to spread malware and perform other forms of identity theft. Phishing attacks obtain sensitive information like your password, credit card, and username information. Emails are then sent from a spoofed email address impersonating a source the recipient would expect or wish to receive email from. For example, emails claiming to be from banks or credit card companies are common bait for phishing scams.
4. DDoS
A distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack is another way hackers can cripple a business. A DDoS floods bandwidth and slows down traffic, which can cost companies money in lost sales or lost productivity if employees are unable to work. Hackers who use DDoS attacks typically target companies that offer services critical to an online experience (like cloud computing or infrastructure).
To make matters worse, these kinds of attacks are pretty common. At any given time, there are roughly 20 DDoS assaults taking place. If your company has been targeted by a DDoS attack, it’s important to know how you can recover from one and what steps you can take to prevent future attacks.
5. Man-in-the-Middle
A man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack occurs when hackers steal data from unsuspecting users. In this type of attack, a user is attempting to log in to their bank account, for example, and is directed by an e-mail or pop-up message that appears to be legitimate to visit a website where they will be prompted for login credentials. The hacker then copies those credentials before redirecting you through a separate site that looks identical to your bank’s. Once you enter your information there, it goes directly into their hands.
Many people miss the man-in-the-middle attack. The only way someone will know it’s happened is if something seems amiss, like if a transaction fails or you see an unexpected transaction in your account history.
Make sure your business is properly protected against hackers and cyber-attacks. Keep this guide in mind as you strengthen your cyber security and protect your computer network from the same computing attacks.
