Cybersecurity issues affect us all, no matter how much we use the internet or how big we are on the web. Individuals, companies, organizations, or associations are all more or less exposed to these various computer security problems, which it is important to know in order to employ the most effective protective measures. Here are 5 of those most common cybersecurity issues, along with our tips for solving them.
1. Password Theft
You want to connect to your personal space on an online store to make your purchases or access your profile on your favorite social network. However, an error message constantly appears. This error message informs you that your password is incorrect, and, despite your attempts, none of the methods offered seem to be able to help you recover access. This type of problem may mean that you have been a victim of password theft, and a cybercriminal is now in possession of your account and any private information that may be stored there.
How to avoid it? Start by strengthening your passwords, and beware of social engineering techniques that can be used to subscribe you to such information. For stronger protection against password theft, it is advisable to use two-factor authentication when this option is available to you.
2. Malware
This is the most common type of threat on the internet, which you may have already faced. Malware, or malicious software, aims to access your personal information, block your access to certain content or programs, they can delete some of your files, or even use an access router to spread a virus to many devices.
How to avoid them? To protect yourself from malware, caution should be exercised when downloading an attachment added to an email or when visiting an unknown website. Using an antivirus or a free VPN trial to hide your IP is also advisable.
3. Phishing Attacks
Phishing attacks are another computer security problem that affects us all. Plus, their number has increased significantly since the internet’s creation. Through a simple text message or email, a hacker tries to trick you into downloading an attachment or clicking on a link. This may contain malware whose purpose is to intercept some of your personal data. Cybercriminals can also ask you for this information directly in the message. They pretend to be a relative who needs money and who wants to take advantage of direct access to your bank account, among other examples.
How to avoid them? The best way to protect yourself from phishing attacks is to use your common sense. Be extremely vigilant when you receive an email or message asking you to share your personal information. Do not respond to urgent requests which encourage you to click on a link to collect your winnings or a package left behind in the post office. First of all, check the shipping address, the tone of the message, and the presence of spelling errors. If the hacker is impersonating someone you know, consider contacting that person directly to make sure the request is legitimate.
4. Ransomware Attacks
Ransomware is developed by hackers with the aim of recovering your sensitive information. This will then be encrypted to deny your access to it. To find this data, you will have to accept the ransom offered by the cybercriminal. It could be particularly high in the case of private videos. Or also when it comes to sensitive information concerning the functioning of certain companies or their base—customer data. The cybercriminal can also threaten you to disclose this data to the public if you do not pay the demanded ransom within the given time.
How to avoid them? Start by setting up a regular backup of your sensitive data, backups that you will need to keep in a secure location. Therefore, if you are the victim of this type of attack, you can easily recover your data, preventing the cybercriminal’s plans.
5. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) Attack
Yet another computer security problem you may face is the one if you do not follow good cybersecurity practices. In the case of a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack, cybercriminals target servers. As a result, a website can be severely slowed down and even become completely inaccessible if no action is taken quickly enough.
How to avoid it? To achieve this, you will first need to find the source of this attack. The servers in question must then be turned off. So then competent IT specialists can carry out the maintenance of the affected servers.
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