Cyber security specialists are constantly defending computer systems from many forms of cyber threats. Every day, cyber criminals target corporations and private systems, and the diversity of attacks has grown rapidly. As per Cisco CEO John Chambers, “there exists two types companies those who have been hacked and those that don’t yet know they have been hacked.”
There are numerous reasons for cyber-attacks. The first is money. Cyber attackers may take a system offline and demand cash to reactivate it. Ransomware, a type of malware that demands money to restore services, is more sophisticated than ever.
Individuals are also targets of cyber attacks, often because they keep sensitive information on their mobile phones and use insecure public networks.
Monitoring developing and escalating cyber attacks is critical to improving cyber security. Earning an online cyber security master’s degree can be extremely beneficial as cyber security professionals try to expand their knowledge of risks and cyber security information.
What Exactly Is a Cybersecurity Threat?
A cyber security threat is any potentially hostile attack that attempts to gain unauthorized access to data, disrupt digital activities, or damage information. Corporate spies, hacktivists, terrorist groups, hostile nation-states, criminal organizations, lone hackers, and disgruntled workers are all possible sources of cyber dangers.
Several high-profile cyber-attacks in recent years have resulted in the exposure of critical data. For example, the Equifax data breach in 2017 exposed the personal information of over 143 million people, including birth dates, addresses, and Social Security numbers. In 2018, Marriott International announced that hackers gained access to its servers and stole the personal information of around 500 million customers. The failure to develop, test and retest technical measures such as encryption, authentication and firewalls facilitated the cyber security threat in both cases.
Cyber attackers can utilize sensitive data from an individual or a company to steal information or get access to financial accounts, among other potentially detrimental acts, which is why cyber security professionals are critical for protecting private data.
7 Different Types of Cyber Security Threats
Cyber security experts should be well-versed in the following sorts of cyber security threats.
- Viruses
Malware is defined as malicious software, which includes spyware, ransomware, viruses, and worms. Malware is activated when a user clicks on a malicious link or attachment, which causes dangerous software to be installed. According to Cisco, once triggered, malware can:
Access to critical network components is restricted
Install additional malicious software.
Obtain information covertly by sending data from the hard drive
Disrupt individual components, rendering the system unusable.
- Emoticon
Emotet is described as “an advanced, modular banking Trojan that primarily works as a downloader or dropper of other banking Trojans” by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). Emotet remains among the most expensive and damaging malware.”
- Denial of Service
A denial of service (DoS) assault is a sort of cyber attack that overloads a computer or network, rendering it unable to respond to requests. A distributed denial of service (DDoS) assault does the same objective, but the attack begins on a computer network. A flood attack is frequently used by cyber attackers to interrupt the “handshake” procedure and carry out a DoS. Other approaches may be utilized, and some cyber attackers may use the time that a network is down to launch other attacks. According to Jeff Melnick of Netwrix, an information technology security software company, a botnet is a sort of DDoS in which millions of devices can be infected with malware and controlled by a hacker. Botnets, also known as zombie systems, attack and overwhelm a target’s processing capacity. Botnets are spread around the globe and are difficult to track down.
- Man in the Middle
When hackers inject themselves into a two-party transaction, this is known as a man-in-the-middle (MITM) assault. According to Cisco, after disrupting communications, they can filter and take data. MITM attacks are common when a visitor connects to an unsecured public Wi-Fi network. Attackers place themselves between the visitor and the network, then use malware to install software and manipulate data.
- Phising
Phishing attacks use forged communication, such as an email, to deceive the recipient into opening it and following the instructions contained within, such as submitting a credit card number. “The purpose is to steal sensitive data such as credit card and login information or to implant malware on the victim’s laptop,” according to Cisco.
- SQL Injection
A Structured Query Language (SQL) injection is a form of cyber attack that occurs when malicious code is inserted into a SQL server. When a server is infected, it releases data. Entering the malicious code into a susceptible website search box might be as simple as that.
- Password Cracking
A cyber attacker can gain access to a lot of information with the appropriate password. Data Insider defines social engineering as “a tactic cyber attackers utilise that depends primarily on human connection and frequently entails luring people into breaching basic security standards.” Accessing a password database or guessing are two other sorts of password assaults.
Cybersecurity Evolution
As the internet and digitally dependent activities develop and adapt, so do cyber security practices. According to Secureworks, those interested in cybersecurity are focusing more on the two topics listed below.
The Internet of Things (IoT)
Individual devices that link to the internet or other networks provide hackers with an entry point. According to Intelligence, in 2019, hackers attacked smart home and internet of things (IoT) devices such as smart TVs, voice assistants, connected baby monitors, and cell phones more frequently. Hackers that successfully infiltrate a connected house obtain access not only to users’ Wi-Fi passwords, but also to private data, such as medical records, bank statements, and website login information.
The Data Explosion
Data storage on personal devices such as laptops and cell phones makes it easier for cyber attackers to get access to a network via a personal device. For example, former U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff warns in his May 2019 book Exploding Data: Reclaiming Our Cyber Security in the Digital Age of widespread exposure of individuals’ personal information, which has grown increasingly vulnerable to cyber-attacks.
As a result, businesses and government agencies require the highest level of cyber security to secure their data and operations. Understanding how to respond to the most recent developing cyber threats is critical for cyber security experts.
It is critical to select the best online cybersecurity master’s program. The best schools provide courses that are up-to-date on today’s cybersecurity issues and concerns.
With concentrations such as Autonomous Systems Cyber Security, Cyber Security and Behavior, Data Security, and General Cyber Security, UND trains students for professions in cyber security.
