What are the 4 types of Cyber attacks?

2. Phishing attack

This type of attack usually occurs over emails and targets personal information. It involves sending emails which may seem from a reliable source but at a closer inspection are not. Some forms of phishing load malware on your computer by the click of a link or attachment, while others include links that redirect you to websites that trick you into giving up personal information.

A more targeted form of phishing activity is spear-phishing, where the attacker performs more research into their target and creates messages that would be relevant and personal. That way, it is easier to bait people, and this makes it even harder to detect such attacks. Attackers can accomplish this by email spoofing, where they falsify information in the ‘From’ section to look legitimate. Another way to seem more legitimate is by cloning credible websites to trick you into giving out personal information.

You can reduce the risk of getting attacked through phishing by critically scanning emails before opening them. Also, take some time before clicking on links and hover over them to see where they lead before taking action.

3. Drive-by attack

This type of attack occurs when an attacker seeks out insecure or vulnerable websites and plants malicious scripts into the PHP or HTTP code. When a user visits the website, the script redirects them to a site controlled by the attackers or installs malware on their computer. You can also fall victim by viewing a pop-up window or an email, even without taking any action to enable the attack, and this makes it even more dangerous.

Since the leading risk factor in this attack includes outdated operating systems and security flaws, it will be best to ensure that all these are checked. Also, try your best to limit the number of plug-ins used in your business procedures as these may make you even more vulnerable.

4. Password attack

With this type of cybersecurity breach, the attacker tries to figure out passwords to access your information. They do this by guessing, using social engineering or nosing around the network connection for unencrypted passwords. Guessing can be done in two forms. First, is through brute-force, where a random approach of trying out different passwords, mostly related to the victim’s name, job title, etc. The second approach, known as the dictionary method, is to try common passwords, hoping that one will match.

You can avoid password attacks by implementing a lockout system where your accounts will be locked after a number of password tries. Also, if you are offered multiple-step verification methods when creating an account it is better to choose that option as it is more secure.

The implications of not taking cybersecurity seriously are severe, especially for businesses, to the extent that it could cripple the company. In fact, the average cost to take care of cyber-attacks is around $1.1 million, and these are funds that could be used to boost other aspects of business operations to reel in some profit. Even if the organisation doesn’t lose funds, it can be a colossal blow to your reputation, as clients will feel that they cannot trust you with their personal information. Making the initial investment into securing your business online is absolutely essential.