Yemi Adesola

10 Common Cyber Threats Everyone Should Know

In today's digital world, cyber threats are becoming more common and more dangerous. Individuals, businesses and governments parastatals can all be targets. The first step of protecting yourself is to know about these threats. In this article we are going to see some of the most common cyber threats you should know about:

Continue reading to learn about common cyber threats you should know about

1. Phishing

Phishing is one of the easiest ways for hackers to get at you. That happens most of the times through fake emails, false messages or through websites which appear to be authentic. What they want is you to share things like password, credit card numbers, or bank details.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Be cautious of emails asking for sensitive information.
• Check the sender’s email address carefully
• Never click on suspicious links.

2. Ransomware

Ransomware is a type of malware that locks your computer or files, and then requests money in exchange for making them available again. Companies are often hacked, but people can be too. And it doesn’t mean that paying the ransom will get your files back.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Keep your software and antivirus up-to-date.
• Back up your data regularly.
• Avoid clicking on unknown links or downloading suspicious files.

3. Malware

Malware is a broad term for software that is designed to do harm (or spy) on your device. They are virus, worms, trojans and spyware. From stealing data to slowing your system or giving the hacker control over your device, this Malware can attack you.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Install a reliable antivirus program.
• Avoid downloading files or apps from untrusted sources.
• Keep your operating system updated.

4. Social Engineering

Hackers use a trick known as social engineering in which they manipulate people to give out personal information or get on a computer to give them access to secure systems. An example of this: someone pretending to be trusted might ask you for your password via phone or email.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Be skeptical of unexpected requests for information.
• Verify the identity of the person asking for sensitive data.
• Don’t share passwords or personal details over the phone or email.

5. Data Breaches

When hackers break into a system to steal sensitive information it’s called a data breach. The personal identification details including passwords, credits card numbers, etc. Targets include companies, schools and governments.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Use strong, unique passwords for different accounts.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) wherever possible.
• Regularly monitor your accounts for suspicious activity.

6. Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attacks

A DoS attack is where hackers fill a website or service with so much traffic that it collapses or ceases working. This can be business and online service news, but not just that — anyone running a website could be affected.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Use security tools to monitor and protect your website.
• Work with your hosting provider to ensure your site is secure.

7. Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attacks

One of these is when hackers intercept communication between two parties like when you log on to public Wi-Fi. They are capable of stealing login credentials, banking details etc.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Avoid using public Wi-Fi for sensitive activities.
• Use a virtual private network (VPN) for secure browsing.
• Ensure websites you visit have HTTPS in the URL.

8. Credential Stuffing

This is what happens when Hackers exploit stolen usernames and passwords gotten from data breach previously to try and access accounts in other websites. If you use the same password on multiple accounts, you’re more likely to be a target.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Use a password manager to create and store unique passwords.
• Change your passwords regularly.
• Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for added security.

9. Spyware and Adware

Spyware tracks your online activities without your consent and sends this information to hackers. Adware serves unwanted ads to you and it can make your device slow.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Use ad-blockers in your browser.
• Avoid clicking on pop-ups or suspicious ads.
• Run regular scans with anti-malware tools.

10. Password Attacks

If the word password attacks sound familiar, this means hackers are trying to guess or steal your passwords to enter your accounts. They might use 'brute force attacks' where they aimlessly test millions of combinations, or this technique of 'password spraying', where they use commonly used passwords to lots of accounts.

How to Protect Yourself:

• Use strong passwords with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Avoid using easily guessed passwords like "123456" or "password."
• Use a password manager to generate and store unique passwords for every account.

Here is my final thoughts

By being familiar with these 10 common cyber threats, you’re better educated to identify and defend against them. It doesn’t have to be complicated, be careful, use what you have and keep yourself safe. You can have a proactive approach to save you from becoming a victim