Top Cybersecurity Risks And What Your Business Can Do To Prevent Them

Nowadays, cybersecurity is a major issue affecting both individuals and businesses. Due to the widespread development of technology, all types of security risks have emerged requiring immediate action. 

Whether you run a small business or a large enterprise, you could be the target of a cyber attack. It is crucial to be aware of the most significant threats and solutions to stop them.

Here you will find the most common cybersecurity risks and what you can do to protect your business.

Malware

A very common form of security threat is malware. It refers to any intrusive software created by cyber criminals which installs itself on a target system.

As a result, unusual behavior occurs, such as deleting files, denying access to programs and redirecting you to malicious websites. 

Disruption is caused to a computer, server or mobile device as the software spreads to all systems. Cybercriminals use it to assume control over multiple devices and steal data. 

To protect your business from malware, ensure all systems, software and applications are kept up-to-date at all times and critical files are encrypted.

Check out this helpful guidance on how to recognize and remove malware. 

Phishing Attacks

Phishing scams are some of the biggest and most damaging risks you may face. They occur when an attacker uses scam emails, text messages or phone calls pretending to be a trusted contact.

The end user is then tricked into providing sensitive information such as account details or downloading a malicious file. 

bermix studio F7DAQIDSk98 unsplash

Phishing attacks have increased recently as criminals have become more convincing. You should help users identify and report phishing scams to minimize this risk.

Related:  A Step-by-step Guide To Accepting Credit Cards

Make sure you filter or block incoming phishing emails and incorporate anti-spoofing controls. It is best to outline an incident response strategy and create an environment which allows users to seek support.

SQL Injection

An SQL attack is a type of data manipulation that uses malicious SQL code to access information that was not available in mobile applications. This information could include sensitive company data or user lists. 

You will need to perform regular application testing to detect unknown loopholes and vulnerabilities.

This application testing expert, known as ForAllSecure can provide you with a reliable solution to identify issues early on and respond effectively. 

The impact an SQL attack can have on a business is tremendous. It can range from the deletion of entire tables to an attacker gaining administrative rights.

That’s why it is crucial to take action and get ahead of potential threats.

Cross-Site Scripting

Cross-site scripting, also known as XSS attack, is a web security vulnerability that allows a third party to target a vulnerable website, such as one lacking encryption. Once the website is targeted, dangerous codes are loaded onto it. 

If a regular user visits this website, these codes will be executed inside their browser. At this point, the attacker can compromise any interactions between the user and the website. 

The goal is to disrupt services or steal personal user information.

To keep your business safe, it is recommended to maintain awareness, use an appropriate encoding technique and implement a content security policy.

Distributed Denial Of Service

This attack is a malicious attempt to target servers and their surrounding infrastructure by overloading them with user traffic. As a result, the server is unable to handle the number of incoming requests.

Afterwards, the website it hosts will either slow down to unusual performance or shut down entirely. Distributed Denial of Service is usually directed at networks of Internet-connected machines. 

Related:  How Product Management And Design Collaborate For Exceptional Products?

To spot this attack, you may identify unexpected traffic and an unexplainable surge in requests. It is important to develop a response plan and ensure high levels of security through firewalls and anti-virus software.

Password Theft

Another major issue which needs to be considered is password theft. If employees use easily guessed passwords, there is a risk of losing sensitive data.

Many businesses tend to use cloud-based services combining different accounts. 

These services often include financial information and important data. Using the same passwords for different accounts or having a weak password can be dangerous.

Make sure your employees are using strong passwords that cannot be cracked easily.

Take a look at this list of the best password management tools to help your team manage shared accounts, monitor and prevent suspicious logins.

pexels antoni shkraba 5475750

Cryptojacking

Lastly, cryptojacking is an attempt to embed malware that forces the infected system to mine cryptocurrencies.

This attack is performed as crypto mining can be especially hardware intensive. Essentially, cybercriminals install cryptojacking software which is used to mine cryptocurrencies and steal from cryptocurrency wallets. 

Users may notice lags in their systems but would not be aware of this virus. There are many techniques you can apply to prevent cryptojacking.

You should stay informed about cybersecurity trends, enable ad blockers, and use special browser extensions to block cryptojackers across the web. 

The following two tabs change content below.
Jonathon Spire

Jonathon Spire

Tech Blogger at Jonathon Spire

My diverse background started with my computer science degree, and later progressed to building laptops and accessories. And now, for the last 7 years, I have been a social media marketing specialist and business growth consultant.

Leave a Comment

Jonathon Spire

I blog about a range of tech topics.

For the last 7 years I have been a social media marketing specialist and business growth consultant, so I write about those the most.

Full transparency: I do review a lot of services and I try to do it as objectively as possible; I give honest feedback and only promote services I believe truly work (for which I may or may not receive a commission) – if you are a service owner and you think I have made a mistake then please let me know in the comments section.

– Jon