4 Common Cyberattacks and How to Avoid Them
Cyberattacks can occur anywhere and come in many different forms. If you own a business, chances are cyberattacks pose an increasing threat to your data security. Here are four cyberattacks that have been widely-reported on and how you can avoid them:
1 – Man In The Middle Attack
A man in the middle attack is when cyber criminals gain access to a system between two parties without either side knowing the other has been compromised. This allows cyber thieves to monitor messages being sent or received by one of the systems, which could include passwords, credit card information, etc. Hackers use man in the middle attacks for financial gain or possibly even more sinister reasons such as espionage or simply blackmailing companies into submission with this sensitive information. You can avoid this cyberattack by using an encrypted connection or virtual private network whenever possible. You can also use public-key cryptography, which involves digital certificates that are provided by trusted authorities.
2 – DDoS Attack
A distributed denial of service attack occurs when cyber thieves overload a website with traffic from multiple sources to block legitimate users from being able to access it. This cyberattack is often used as a form of extortion, but cyber criminals have started using it more frequently for pure mischief. It affects both businesses and consumers who are trying to access the website at the time. DDoS attacks are difficult to prevent since cybercriminals sometimes install malware on individual computers without their owners knowing about it in order to gain over them all at once for this cyberattack.
Not only can cyber criminals use this cyberattack to shut down a business’s website, but they could also demand a ransom in exchange for stopping the attack. You can protect yourself from a DDoS cyberattack by maintaining a strong security program and installing proper cyber insurance coverage so your company doesn’t suffer permanent damage from cybercriminals’ attacks.
3 – Man In The Browser Attack
A man in the browser attacks occur when cyber thieves install malware on an individual computer to gain access to sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, etc. without any user interaction being required. These cyberattacks usually target online banking accounts because cyber thieves have been known to take over people’s PCs just long enough to log into their bank account and transfer money out of it.
This cyberattack can also target company websites to install malware on the server that houses the website in order to gain access to even more sensitive information about your employees, including passwords and employee credentials that cyber thieves could use for identity theft. To prevent this cyber attack you need a strong security solution that protects against unwanted cyberattacks including ransomware, bots, viruses/malware, phishing, spyware, adware and more. It’s also important to educate employees on best cyber security practices so they know what actions they should take if one of these cyber attacks occurs.
4 – Phishing Attack
A phishing attack is when cyber criminals send spoofed emails or texts disguised as legitimate messages asking for personal details such as usernames, passwords, credit card information, bank account numbers, etc. These cyberattacks are especially successful because cyber criminals often create emails that look legitimate so people open them. One way to avoid this cyberattack is to educate employees on cyber security and cyber best practices so they know how to identify and deal with phishing messages. You can also maintain a strong security solution that blocks spam and malware as well as an email filter solution that will help prevent spam from reaching your network in the first place.
To avoid cyberattacks, it is important to maintain a strong security solution and educate employees on cyber best practices. It is also important to have cyber insurance coverage in case cybercriminals attempt any of these cyberattacks against your company’s network. If you don’t want to battle with cybercriminals alone, Galaxy IT offers managed IT services for small businesses that will protect your business from cyberattacks at an affordable monthly rate. Call (385) 332-8665 to learn more about Galaxy IT reliable information technology support plans today!
