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Recent Cyber Security Threats and How to Avoid Them

Cybersecurity has grown to be a concern for tech companies and government agencies in the era of connectivity that we live in today. We have been talking about it as though it is somehow not a key issue that impacts all of us, from the individual to multinationals. While technology changes, the threats remain in the dark, citing irrelevance to time-innovated security measures. In this post, we will discuss five of the most common threats to cybersecurity and tips on how you can protect your data from these dangerous minds.

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Comprehending the Current Cybersecurity Landscape

The digital world is such a conflicting thing with itself. This means it provides convenience and connectivity like never seen before but is also filled with lots of vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals are becoming more skillful and using sophisticated methods to manage vulnerabilities.

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The Rise of Ransomware

Ransomware attacks have increased recently, focusing not only on small businesses but larger infrastructure as well. These types of attacks involve ransomware that infects a target device with software that locks the users’ data and demands payment to release it.

The 2021 Colonial Pipeline attack was a powerful global reminder of how destructive ransomware can be — remember when it messed with the Eastern US’s fuel supplies?

Prevention Tips:

• * Back up your files on an external hard drive or cloud service.
• * Patch your systems, operating system, and software regularly to address security gaps.

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The Growing Threat of Phishing Scams

One other highly developing class to observe is phishing scams — they accounted for the fourth-highest legion of assaults detected at greater than 93 million in June.

Gone are the days of spamming around phishing emails with bad English. Fast forward to today, and they are finely tuned, frequently appearing to be real communications from your regular providers. Spear phishing, where attackers craft individualized emails to fool people into revealing confidential information, is on the rise.

Prevention Tips:

• * Beware of cold emails/messages — especially ones that require any personal info.
• * Check the email address from the sender and see whether there is any discrepancy.

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Cybersecurity Emerging Threats

Technology changes, and so do the threats that require updating security postures.

IoT — Internet of Things Vulnerabilities

Smart homes, filled with all sorts of connected devices — from smart thermostats to car sensors — have generated new cybercriminal hackers in the home. Unfortunately, these are mostly insecure devices, as they do not come with strong security capabilities, making them vulnerable to attacks.

For instance, 2016 saw an exceptionally large distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack that took advantage of insecure IoT devices during the Mirai botnet attack, which targeted some of the biggest websites.

Prevention Tips:

• * Don’t use default passwords on any of your IoT devices.
• * Keep device firmware updated to improve security.

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Cybercrime and the Role of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Although AI provides many advantages, it can also be a double-edged sword and give cybercriminals the automation and scalability they need for their attacks. They might use it for building phishing scams, finding vulnerabilities in a system, or other malicious activities.

Real-World Example:

Malware that is AI-driven can adapt to suit the security measures in place, making it harder to detect, isolate, and counter.

Prevention Tips:

• * Leverage AI-driven security solutions for real-time threat detection and response.
• * For the latest updates and news, follow us on our blog section or connect with us over LinkedIn at SecureLayer7.

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• How to Boost Your Cybersecurity in Practical Steps

In this day and age, you have to be proactive as the internet creates anonymity requirements. Here’s what you can do to increase your data and privacy protection.

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1- Strengthen Your Passwords

To fill out forms and other online processes automatically, enable password managers. Weak passwords are the common cracking point for cybercriminals. Use naturally strong and unique passwords for every account.

Here are some tips:

• Include uppercase, lowercase, and special characters (UpperCase, LowerCase, Special).
• If you have too many credentials to remember, use a password manager.

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2- Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication increases your security by requiring a second means of getting verified, like a text message or authenticator app.

• Use 2FA, especially for email and financial services.

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3- Learn for Your Own and Your Team’s Sake

Cybercrime is fought with awareness. Keep yourself and your team up to date with the new threats and emerging best practices.

• * Cubedos are the training you schedule across the year, focusing on community-prioritized cyber education.
• * Subscribe to our cybersecurity newsletter to get the latest news and trends.

This really struck me, and I completely agree: Because cybersecurity is more than just technology. It’s not just about the people either. The first line of defense is educating yourself and your team.

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Conclusion

There is a pool of new threats out there, thanks to the ever-evolving nature of our online world. This means staying up to date with current threats and ensuring you have all appropriate security measures in place to protect yourself and your data.

Let there be no doubt, cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility, and forming an alliance today can help reduce tomorrow’s hefty price tag.

Learn more about cybersecurity best practices via:

• Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)