5 Types of Cyber Security Threats

A cyber-attack can cause devastating effects on a business. Not only can it shut down your operations, but your reputation can be significantly impacted.

In order to prevent them from happening as much as possible, it’s essential to know what types of threats there are. Below, we will talk about just five that you should watch out for.

Sound interesting? Then let’s get started.

Malware

Malware is one of the most well-known cyber security threats installed through dangerous links and attachments. It can be used to describe other terms, such as viruses, ransomware, spyware, and worms.

Once your computer or device has become infected, it can cause several issues. For example, some may spam you with advertisements, while others will crack passwords and lock your important files.

This is why it can be worth seeking out a managed security services provider to help you establish a great protection plan. It’s better to focus on prevention before it’s too late.

Phishing

Phishing is an attack that uses an email to trick the recipient into sending personal information, such as credit card details. Often, they are disguised to look exactly like a well-known company.

Some emails will contain malware that is installed after clicking on a link, while others will communicate with the recipient directly. Luckily, there are ways to identify them.

You may notice:

– Grammar and spelling errors

– Inconsistencies in email addresses

– Sense of urgency

–Suspicious attachments

Data Spill

A data spill or data breach is when personal information becomes available to another unauthorized person. This could be due to hacking or something as simple as accidentally sending an email to the wrong person.

In order to prevent these types of breaches from happening, businesses can use a variety of tools, such as XDR or Extended Detection and Response. You can read more about how it works here.

Denial of Service Attack

Also known as DOS, Denial of Service attacks overload your system with requests. This can either cause it to shut down or become inaccessible to users.

Compared to the other threats on this list, DOS attacks don’t necessarily aim to steal information but instead cause a company to lose time and money.

Man in the Middle Attack

Like in a spy movie, a “Man in the Middle” attack occurs when a hacker spies between two people to steal information. They are one of the oldest types of cyber threats and aren’t as common as those mentioned above.

This is because the same effect can generally be done with malware. That being said, it’s still something that can cause a lot of damage.

Final Words

And that’s it. These were five types of cyber security threats. By learning more about them, you can focus on building strategies to help protect you and your information. 

However, keep in mind there are many others that you may want to look further into, some of which include:

– SQL Injection

– DNS Tunnelling

– Drive-by Attack

– Password Attack