By Zainab Shafiq 
The internet is a blessing and curse in modern, digital life: all its vast uses you can make, but by doing so you are also actively exposing it to costly risks. Being aware of cyber threats and knowing how to protect yourself from such is an important measure in safeguarding your personal as well as professional data. As a business owner, professional or just on the receiving end of an email which fits the category above it is important to understand these threats and can help you focus on your security.
Security threats are forever evolving, increasingly complex and concealed. There are many tactics hackers and cybercriminals use to exploit vulnerabilities in cloud systems, including: Read on as we scrounge out five of the most common cybersecurity threats and how you can keep yourself safe against them.
Top Most Common Cybersecurity Threats and Ways to Safeguard Yourself
1. Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks – A highly common web security threat to using deceiving Emails or Messages targeting an individual. Cybercriminals pretend to be respectable companies like banks, social media platforms or popular online services and use phishing techniques- fake emails and websites -to lure unsuspecting users into giving up their most sensitive information: such as usernames & passwords, bank account details of debit/credit cards.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Check the Domain Name from Which The Email is Coming: You can check the domain name of sender’s email address which usually helps in identifying a phishing attack.
- Don’t Click on Links: Hover so you can see a URL preview before clicking. Or, when in doubt just go to the site by typing the address into your browser.
- Use Anti-phishing Tools: You must use email filters and anti-phishing software for automatic blocking of phishing emails.
2. Malware
Malware Malicious software includes viruses, worms, trojans and ransomware. Viruses do things like corrupt or interrupt processes, steal data and multiply to other devices. Here is how malware commonly gets into the system: via email with attachments, from untrustworthy sites and downloads.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Install Antivirus Software: Use decent, updated antivirus and anti-malware that is up-to-date.
- Keep Your Software Updated: Regularly update your operating system, applications and security software to avoid vulnerabilities.
- Be Careful with Downloads: Download software from a reputable source and do not click on unexpected download links.
Also, read: Top 5 Productivity Hacks to Help You Achieve More in Less Time
3. Ransomware
Explanation: Malware that encrypts your data and holds it hostage until a ransom is paid to the attacker. For the average person, it can be disastrous and costly for businesses as data is compromised, owned by others.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Regular Backups: Perform regular backups of your important data to an external drive or cloud services so you can restore them again when needed.
- Strong Security Measures: Utilize comprehensive security tools such as firewalls, antivirus software and intrusion detection systems.
- Learn about the risks: There is no substitute for knowledge in discussing and preventing infections across ransomware User Practice.
4. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks
Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) attacks – A cybercriminal eavesdrops on communication between two parties and usually inserts themselves into the pushed data or injected code_FN_ID[1]. This may occur if you are using unsecured public Wi-Fi networks or by use of compromised devices.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Secure Your Connections: Always use HTTPS websites and do not make important transactions utilizing public Wi-Fi.
- Use VPNs: Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) encrypt your internet connection and keep you secure.
- Keep up with the news: Always update your devices and software to prevent exploiting potential vulnerabilities targeted for a MitM attack.
5. DoS or Spamming Attacks
Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks- overloading a network or website with traffic so it becomes unavailable to its intended user(s). These attacks can hurt the online service and lead to huge monetary losses, especially for businesses.
How to Protect Yourself:
- Secure Network Traffic: Protect your network by using firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS) and anti-DDoS services.
- Traffic Monitoring: Monitor your traffic on a regular basis, in case you see an odd trend which may signal that something is not right.
- Response Plan: Create a DoS response model to address any attacks as they occur.
Conclusion
You know – in this digital age we all live a guide to roll out some trajectories that are crucial for us to understand and protect our-self. Understanding these threats and taking a few proactive security measures can help reduce the odds of becoming cyber-criminals prey. Keep your eyes peeled, update the software on time and educate yourself about new security practices that will keep you away from these malicious attacks like a pro.