In the era of digitization, the amount of data that is exchanged daily between people and organizations is growing exponentially, and digital data carries an inestimable value, both for organizations and for cybercriminals. As people increasingly reach for online platforms and applications that facilitate their activities such as entertainment, shopping, education, and business management, they thereby escape the danger of cyber attackers.
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Just like that, cyber threats are no longer reserved only for large state or private companies, but affect everyone, so understanding and mitigating these risks is the key to a positive online experience. In this article, we will touch on some of the most common forms of cybersecurity threats, as well as data privacy risks, and offer ideas for successful protection.
Common Cybersecurity Threats
Cyberattacks usually aim to access, manipulate, or destroy sensitive information, extort money from users, or interrupt normal business processes, and their target can be anyone – from small local businesses to normal people, to large global companies. The only difference is the probability of their success, the damage inflicted, and the method used by the attacker. Before you consider looking for a customized antivirus solution or a data removal tool, make sure to understand the most common cybersecurity threats first.
Malicious Software – better known as Malware, is any program or code that is made with the aim of damaging the target computer, network, or even server. Codes and programs of this form are extremely hostile and intrusive and can damage or completely disable a computer, telephone, system, or network in a very short time. Some of the most well-known forms are viruses, trojans, worms, and others.
Phishing – is a social engineering technique that uses fake emails, messages, or websites to trick users into revealing their personal information, such as social security numbers and bank details. This technique is so advanced that people often do not even know that they have given hackers access to their devices, and the consequences can be immeasurable. Fortunately, phishing is perhaps the easiest to avoid, but it is important to be aware of it.
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Ransomware – is a type of malicious software or malware, which instead of damaging the computer or software, permanently locks the system and stops all operations, after which the attacker demands a ransom for their return. The most common targets of such attacks are companies that keep sensitive personal data, such as banks and law firms, but also companies that have weaker defenses or large monetary values.
Data Privacy Risks
Although internet security has improved a lot in recent years, sharing personal information online still brings numerous dangers.
Unauthorized access to data – Weak passwords, especially those that are repeated or unencrypted communication make it easier for cyber attackers to access your data and give them the opportunity to steal your identity, spend your money, or engage in other illegal activities on your behalf.
Data breach – the most common target of cyber attackers are large companies, so these attacks can expose huge amounts of personal data of users from different industries.
Third-party data misuse- as was the case in data breaches, hackers target companies that contain large amounts of user data and sell them to third parties without your authorization.
Protection Measures
Despite the numerous threats that lurk in the online universe, it is important to know that there are almost countless options for people and companies to protect their data. First, it is important to start with simple steps such as:
Adopt the practice of strong passwords – forget birthdays, anniversaries, or the name of your first pet, but focus on creating more complex passwords that will consist of a series of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols. If you don’t have the will or time to do it yourself, use complex password generators, but also very importantly a password manager so that you don’t deny yourself access to personal profiles.
Enable two-factor verification – if someone manages to break through the first layer of protection, your complex password, make sure that the second layer of protection catches him. Two-factor verification usually requires another form of verification, usually in the form of a code that is sent to an email or message and is used to confirm identity.
Install antivirus software – modern antivirus protects the system from many possible malicious programs, and the factors you need to consider when choosing the right one include protection, speed, and price. A good antivirus must offer multi-layered all-inclusive protection, and some of the most famous ones are Norton, Bitdefender, and McAfee.
In addition to these three methods, you can additionally protect yourself by encrypting your data, using secure connections or VPNs for added security, but also simply being more aware of the possibility of fraud, where you will pay attention to grammatical errors, domain mismatches or urgent requests for personal data. Regularly update your devices and applications and delete history and cookies to keep data protected.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity and data privacy threats are real and with new technologies, they are becoming more frequent and serious. Fortunately, there are solutions, and for Internet users, it would be ideal to combine these two components to ensure maximum protection and trouble-free surfing. Cyber security protects systems that store data, and data privacy ensures responsible use of personal information, so the merger would not only prevent any unauthorized access but also reduce the risk of theft and fraud.
