With the continuous development of modern technology comes the evergoing evolution of cybercrime. Despite the immense effort to prevent cybercrime and reduce the losses caused by a cyberattack, cybercrime continues and will continue to happen as long as there are criminals behind it. In fact, the losses caused by cybercrime are expected to grow every year as victims pay for ransoms, fines, and repairs following a breach.
In the past year, the pandemic has caused cyberattacks to increase in number as both public and private sectors make use of the Internet in lieu of face-to-face interactions. To illustrate, Zoom, a video conferencing app commonly used for virtual meetings, had over half a million of their accounts compromised by credential stuffing. This lapse in security means exposure of confidential information that was exchanged during the virtual meetings of those whose accounts were stolen, which opens up a whole new set of problems both for the company and its consumers.
Aside from getting services such as a ServiceNow implementation project plan, businesses of all sizes should be knowledgeable about the different types of common cyber threats. Here are the descriptions of the most common ones, including the appropriate security measures against them:
Backdoor computing attack
Backdoors on computers function essentially like a backdoor of a house. When used in non-criminal ways, backdoors provide another means of access for users who are locked out of their accounts or those who are trying to troubleshoot their devices–much like when you forget your key and have to go through the backdoor to enter your house.
However, backdoors can also be used by criminals to steal your data, install malware, or hijack your device. And just like cat burglars who use the backdoor to gain entry to a house, they leave no trace since there is no sign of forced entry. Essentially, cyberattacks that are done through the backdoor can go undetected for quite some time.
Backdoor computing attacks are nothing new, but they are still very common threats in this year and probably beyond. To protect yourself against backdoor breaches, choose a good cybersecurity software, change your passwords regularly, and monitor your network activity.
SQL injection attack
An SQL injection attack involves the use of a malicious SQL code that is issued to a database, which gives the cybercriminal access to sensitive information, including confidential company data, credentials, financial details, and customer information. This problem has become very common for websites that are database-driven, and just like other cyber threats, it doesn’t seem like it will go away any time soon.
The best way to prevent an SQL injection attack is to have a set of defense strategies in place. This can include testing your database susceptibility to SQL injection, using parameterized stored procedures, validating and sanitizing all data inputs, and using SQL injection detection tools.
Formjacking
Formjacking is another common type of cyberattack that is unrelenting in the past years. In this type of cyberattack, the criminal injects malicious Javascript code to hijack a website and collect sensitive information that is inputted on website forms, particularly credit card details and personal details that will allow criminals to steal identities.
Needless to say, this type of attack is potentially devastating not only for the company but also for the individuals who had their personal details stolen. Website owners can prevent this type of cyberattack by using strong antivirus software, testing updates regularly, and running vulnerability scans and penetration tests. For consumers, they can avoid the consequences of formjacking by using a masked credit card or using tokenization for payment.
Malware
Malware will never go away. And its proliferation seems to have only grown as the bulk of classes, meetings, conferences are conducted online due to the pandemic. Here are the most common types of malware:
- Macro viruses. A macro virus attaches itself to the initialization process of computer applications to perform unauthorized tasks on the computer, such as create new files, insert pictures, corrupt data, and wipe out hard drives.
- Ransomware. This type of malware is very common. It involves hijacking a system’s data, asking for a price in exchange for returning the files, or not publishing sensitive data.
- File infectors. A file infector virus attaches itself to executable code, most commonly .exe files. The virus code executes when the program is launched, causing all sorts of havoc to the computer.
Cyberattacks happen every day and businesses of any size can fall victim. If you want to protect your company from the potentially devastating effects of a cyberattack, reevaluate your security measures and determine how you can strengthen your defense systems. Take note of these common cyber threats to help you identify which areas you need to reinforce, and don’t forget to invest in solid cybersecurity software to keep you protected.
