Information security breaches are among the most devastating threats facing the modern world. Whether you own a business or use a variety of online services, you may always fear the possibility of some intruder; however, there isn’t much else you can do besides take precautions. And to take precautions, you first need to know about the threats, and in most cases, people don’t seem to realize what kinds of threats exist.
As an ordinary user, you would expect online service providers to offer some sort of information concerning possible threats. And this really is in the interest of service providers to ensure the user information security of users, and this is especially true for cloud management. This is the reason why cyber security training is now even a specialized area of service, as it allows service providers to heighten their security levels and remain a step ahead or at least positioned for pre-emptive measures when they detect suspicious activity.
To get a decent idea of the kinds of real-world cyber security threats out there, below are 10 that can be countered when you have the right knowledge. It’s noteworthy to mention that some of these threats can be more complex than others. While they appear to be well-known, there may be a multitude of newer ways these attacks may be conducted.
New Technology with Weak Security
With new technology being released almost daily, there are newer challenges and newer doorways for intruders. Because often enough new technologies don’t come with an existing defense mechanism when they’re first released. Since most new technologies will have some form of internet connection, their vulnerability is obvious.
Attacks that Leverage Social Media Data
While social media itself has experienced hundreds and thousands of attacks in terms of user accounts being hacked, cybercriminals are leveraging social media more intelligently now through a process known as “water holing”. They target hundreds of specified websites based on their data, assuming that members belonging to a particular organization will browse at some point.
Mobile Malware
Mobile devices have been penetrated since they were first used. Most of these devices were without any form of security. Malware poses perhaps the greatest threat to the modern world of data due to extreme reliance on internet access on the go. Many network administrators have access to large infrastructure through their mobile devices, and if cybercriminals get in, the results can be disastrous. Mobile versions of cybersecurity measures are a must, and fortunately, they have gotten the attention they deserve.
Third-party Intrusion
Cybercriminals love to break into places where there is a treasure trove of data. When they get in, they have access to thousands of user credentials, potentially resulting in huge financial or other data loss. An example of this is the iCloud hack that left several celebrities embarrassed when their personal data was exposed. Clearly, these organizations need the best information security to prevent admin level usernames and passwords from being stolen.
Configuration Negligence
Organizations apply big data tools that come with immense customization ability. With this advantage comes huge risk when security configurations are not complete. In an attack on the New York Times, it was discovered that administrators only enabled one of a complete array of critical points that left a complete doorway for that data breach.
Outdated Security Measures
Implementing the latest security measures is mandatory for the best level of information security. Oftentimes, individuals and organizations neglect to update their security software. Newer versions released hold far higher value and must be implemented immediately. With new malicious codes and techniques emerging, updated software becomes available with updated measures to counter newer forms of attacks. Implemented these countermeasures in the form of security software updates is a must.
Insufficient Encryption
Encrypted data transfers are not widely practiced, and this is one of the major reasons why sensitive data often falls in the wrong hands. Certain minimum standards of encrypted data transfer are most important. As an example, HIPAA compliance is well-known in the healthcare industry since they deal with sensitive and personal patient data.
Corporate Data Access through Company Mobile Devices
Many organizations give their employees mobile devices for managing their work remotely. This flexibility is often done without disabling apps that employees can use for personal activity. This has been known to result in corporate data being compromised, intentionally and unintentionally. Restricting the use of some apps has remained a challenged, but organizations decide to take these risks in order to ensure that their employees tend to their most pressing tasks as soon as soon as possible.
Inadequate Network Security Technology
Apart from software for security that nullifies threats, there is also growing awareness when it comes to deploying network monitoring software that detects irregular behavior on a network and dispatches alerts to network administrators. Companies often neglect this sort of investment because they feel it is unnecessary. However, these alerts will only help if there is someone available to take immediate action. Some companies fail to have someone available to deal with an intrusion, which renders the software useless.
Companies and individuals too can take a number of steps to keep their data safe from cybercriminals. Each of the above modes of attack has a countermeasure, and that is largely in the shape of being sufficiently educated in preventing cyber-attacks. It’s also noteworthy to mention that dealing with constant security is not everyone’s cup of tea, and so, getting the right people trained through suitable cyber security training organizations to ensure data security is deemed as the best measure.
With a sharp increase in cyber crimes of all kinds in recent years, companies are investing millions of dollars to ensure their data is kept safe. While no one can claim 100% data safety, you can narrow down the chances of any breach to more than 99% when you have trained data security staff members.