What is Cyber Security?

Know everything about what is cyber security

What is Cyber Security? – The technique of protecting computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems, networks, and data from hostile intrusions is known as cyber security. It’s also known as electronic information security or information technology security. The phrase is used in a range of contexts, ranging from business to mobile computing, and it may be broken down into a few categories.

• The practice of guarding a computer network from intruders, whether targeted attackers or opportunistic malware, is known as network security.
• Application security is concerned with ensuring that software and devices are free of dangers. A hacked application could allow access to the data it was supposed to secure. Security starts throughout the design phase, long before a programe or device is deployed.
• Data integrity and privacy are protected by information security, both in storage and in transport.
• The processes and decisions for handling and securing data assets are included in operational security. The protocols that dictate how and where data may be kept or exchanged, as well as the permissions users have while accessing a network, all fall under this umbrella.
• Disaster recovery and business continuity are terms that describe how a company reacts in the case of a cyber-security breach or any other catastrophe that results in the loss of operations or data. Disaster recovery policies define how an organisation returns operations and information to the same operational capabilities as before the disaster. Business continuity is the plan that an organisation uses when it is unable to operate due to a lack of resources.
• End-user education focuses on the most unpredictable aspect of cyber-security: people. By failing to follow appropriate security measures, anyone can unintentionally introduce a virus into an otherwise protected system. It is critical for every organization’s security to teach users to delete suspicious email attachments, not plug in unrecognised USB drives, and a variety of other key teachings.

The Scale of the Cyber Threat

The worldwide cyber threat is rapidly evolving, with an increasing number of data breaches each year. According to a survey released by RiskBased Security, data breaches exposed 7.9 billion records in the first nine months of 2019. This is more than double (112%) the amount of records disclosed in the same time period last year.

The most breaches occurred in medical services, retail, and government entities, with malevolent criminals being accountable for the majority of occurrences. Because they collect financial and medical data, some of these industries are particularly appealing to cybercriminals, but any organisation that uses networks might be targeted for customer data, corporate espionage, or customer attacks.

The International Data Corporation projects that global spending on cyber-security solutions will reach a whopping $133.7 billion by 2022, as the scope of the cyber threat continues to grow. Governments all over the world have issued recommendations to help businesses develop strong cyber-security policies in response to the growing cyber threat.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the United States has developed a cyber-security architecture. The framework promotes constant, real-time monitoring of all electronic resources to counteract the spread of harmful malware and aid in early identification.

The necessity of system monitoring is emphasised in the UK government’s National Cyber Security Centre’s “10 stages to cyber security” guidelines. The Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC) releases guidelines on how enterprises can combat the latest cyber-security threats on a regular basis in Australia.

Types of Cyber Threats

The threats countered by cyber-security are three-fold:

1. 1. Cybercrime refers to individuals or groups who attack systems for monetary gain or to cause disruption.
   2. Politically motivated information collection is common in cyber-attacks.
   3. The goal of cyberterrorism is to generate panic or dread by undermining electronic systems.

So, how do bad guys obtain access to computer systems? Here are some of the most typical ways that cyber-security is jeopardised:

Malware

Malware is a term that refers to malicious software. Malware is software designed by a cybercriminal or hacker to disrupt or damage a legitimate user’s computer. It is one of the most common cyber dangers. Malware, which is commonly sent by an unsolicited email attachment or a legitimate-looking download, can be used by cybercriminals to gain money or in politically motivated cyber-attacks.

Malware comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, including:

• • Virus: A self-replicating programme that infects files with harmful code after attaching itself to a clean file and spreading throughout a computer system.
  • Trojans are a type of malware that masquerades as genuine software. Users are duped into downloading Trojans onto their computers, which then inflict damage or collect data.
  • Spyware is a type of software that secretly records what a user does so that hackers can profit from it. Spyware, for example, could record credit card information.
  • Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a user’s files and data and threatens to delete them unless a ransom is paid.
  • Adware is a type of advertising software that can be used to distribute malware.
  • Botnets are malware-infected computer networks that hackers employ to conduct tasks online without the user’s consent.

Injection of SQL

An SQL (structured language query) injection is a type of cyber-attack that allows a hacker to take control of a database and steal information from it. Using a malicious SQL query, cybercriminals exploit vulnerabilities in data-driven systems to instal malicious code into a database. This provides them with access to the database’s sensitive information.

Phishing

When fraudsters send emails that look to be from a reputable company and ask for sensitive information, this is known as phishing. Phishing attacks are frequently used to trick people into divulging personal information such as credit card numbers and passwords.

Man-in-the-Middle Attack

A man-in-the-middle attack is a type of cyber threat in which a hacker intercepts communication between two people in order to obtain information. On an insecure WiFi network, for example, an attacker could intercept data passing between the victim’s device and the network.

Denial-of-Service Attack

A denial-of-service attack occurs when thieves flood a computer system’s networks and servers with traffic, preventing it from fulfilling legitimate requests. This makes the system unworkable, prohibiting an organisation from doing essential tasks.

Latest Cyber Threats

What are the most recent cyber risks that individuals and businesses should be aware of? Here are some of the most current cyber threats reported by the governments of the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia.

Dridex Malware

The leader of an organised cyber-criminal group was charged in December 2019 by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) for his role in a global Dridex malware attack. This malevolent effort has a global impact on the general public, government, infrastructure, and industry.

Dridex is a financial trojan that can do a lot of things. It has been infecting computers since 2014, infecting them through phishing emails or existing malware. It has caused enormous financial losses equivalent to hundreds of millions of dollars by stealing passwords, banking credentials, and personal data that can be used in fraudulent transactions.

The National Cyber Security Centre of the United Kingdom encourages the public to “ensure devices are patched, anti-virus is turned on and up to date, and files are backed up” in reaction to the Dridex attacks.

Romance Scams

In February 2020, the FBI issued a warning to Americans about confidence fraud perpetrated by cybercriminals through dating sites, chat rooms, and apps. Victims are duped into handing out personal information by perpetrators who take advantage of those looking for new mates.

According to the FBI, romance cyber threats affected 114 people in New Mexico in 2019, resulting in $1.6 million in damage.

Emotet Malware

The Australian Cyber Security Centre issued a warning to national entities in late 2019 about a widespread global cyber threat posed by Emotet virus.

Emotet is a complex trojan that has the ability to steal data as well as instal additional infections. Emotet thrives on simple passwords, which serves as a reminder of the significance of selecting a safe password to protect against cyber-attacks.

End-User Protection

Endpoint security, often known as end-user protection, is an important part of cyber security. After all, it’s common for an individual (the end-user) to unintentionally download malware or another type of cyber danger to their computer, laptop, or mobile device.

So, how do end users and systems benefit from cyber-security measures? To begin, cryptographic protocols are used to encrypt emails, files, and other sensitive data. This safeguards information not just while it is in transit, but also against loss or theft.

Furthermore, end-user security software analyses computers for harmful malware, quarantines it, and then deletes it from the system. Security software may even identify and delete dangerous malware hiding in the Master Boot Record (MBR), as well as encrypt or wipe data from the hard disc.

Real-time malware detection is also a focus of electronic security protocols. To fight against viruses or Trojans that change their shape with each run, many people utilise heuristic and behavioural analysis to monitor the behaviour of a programme and its code (polymorphic and metamorphic malware). To evaluate their activity and learn how to better detect new infections, security programmes can isolate potentially harmful apps in a virtual bubble separate from the user’s network.

As cyber-security specialists find new dangers and strategies to counteract them, security programmes continue to evolve new defences. Employees must be trained on how to utilise end-user security software in order to get the most out of it. Importantly, keeping it up to date and functioning guarantees that it can defend users from the latest cyber dangers.

Cyber Safety Tips – Protect Yourself Against Cyberattacks

1. How can organisations and individuals protect themselves from cyber-threats? Here are some of our best cyber-security recommendations:
2. Update your software and operating system: This ensures that you have the most up-to-date security updates.
3. Use anti-virus software: Anti-virus software, such as Kaspersky Total Security, can detect and eradicate threats. For the highest level of security, keep your software up to date.
4. Use strong passwords: Make sure your passwords are difficult to guess.
5. Never open email attachments from unknown senders since they may contain viruses.
6. Do not click on links in emails from unknown senders or strange websites: Malware is sometimes propagated by clicking on links in emails from unknown senders or unfamiliar websites.
7. Don’t use public WiFi networks that aren’t secure: These networks are vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks.