A cyber attack is a malicious action carried out by individuals or groups, targeting computer systems, networks, and infrastructures to steal, alter, disrupt, or destroy data or information. Cyber attacks can be executed using various techniques and methods, all aimed at compromising the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of the target.
Examples of cyber attacks include:
Phishing: An attempt to obtain sensitive information like login credentials and credit card details by impersonating a trustworthy entity, typically through emails or websites.
Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks: Flooding a system or network with excessive traffic, rendering it unusable and preventing legitimate users from accessing it.
Ransomware: Malicious software that encrypts a victim’s data and demands payment for decryption.
Malware: Software designed to cause damage or gain unauthorized access to a computer system.
Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks: Attackers intercept communications between two parties and can eavesdrop, modify, or inject malicious data during transmission.
Prevention measures for cyber attacks include:
Regular updates:
Keep software, operating systems, and applications up to date with the latest patches and security updates to fix vulnerabilities.
Use strong passwords:
Create complex and unique passwords for each account, and use two-factor or multi-factor authentication where applicable.
Employee training:
Educate employees about cyber threats and good online security practices to reduce the risk of human errors.
Firewall and antivirus software:
Utilize firewall, antivirus, and antimalware software to prevent, detect, and mitigate threats.
Secure backups:
Regularly back up data and store it in a secure location to enable easy recovery in case of data loss or compromise.
Network segmentation:
Divide the network into smaller segments to limit the impact of a breach, and protect sensitive information with restricted access.
Regular security assessments:
Conduct comprehensive security audits, vulnerability scans, and risk assessments to identify and rectify potential security weaknesses.
