The growing rate of cyber attacks calls for users to develop the practice of protecting digital systems, networks, cloud environments, and data from unauthorised access, misuse, or disruption. This, they can do by being vigilant, knowledgeable, and constantly evolving discipline that integrates technology, policy, and human expertise to defend the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical assets across the modern digital landscape.
Today, Cybercriminals are using AI to orchestrate social engineering-based threats like phishing. They use AI to create convincible phishing campaigns to steal sensitive information and deploy ransomware. Attackers use evolved ransomware that is harder to detect and contain, posing a greater risk to sensitive data than ever before.
The evolution of quantum computing technology has enabled hackers to crack even the strongest encryption.
Hackers are engaging in high speed brute force attacks on Microsoft Users, exploiting poor default router password security issues and leveraging Google sign-in authentication flaws to bypass accounts.
They are acquiring tools like Sneaky 2FA from the dark web to access accounts. Cybercriminals use deepfakes to fool their targets into taking immediate action. They might pose as a trusted finance executive or CEO/CFO demanding an immediate transfer of funds. Tech experts have developed a combination of technologies, processes, and user behaviours designed to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information.
These techniques aim at ensuring software and devices are free from threats that could access data, effective guards against threats like ransomware, data theft, operational disruption, protecting networks from intruders, malware, and unauthorised access. In today’s digital world, assuming security can be dangerous. Gone are the days when cyber-attacks were a rarity. Nowadays, data breaches have become part of mainstream media and news.
Despite this, most people aren’t too concerned about cybersecurity. It is all safe until one becomes a victim of a cyberattack. All it takes is one compromised account for hackers to gain access to systems in an organisation. So, it is critical to be aware and prepared.
A report by SharkStriker provides users with key insights on how to be a step ahead of hackers. These, include setting strong passwords and enable MFA. A strong password is the minimum you can do to secure your account. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication and location-based login notification. It will not only add another layer to the security of your account but also singlehandedly secure you from 99% of automated security threats and help you keep track of your account’s access.
The report also urges users to backup their most valuable information. This will help them recover their data faster and quickly respond to threats. There is a best practice for backups called 3-2-1 backup in which 3 copies of the data are stored in two different storage media, with one backup saved in an offsite location. Users are also discouraged from clicking on any link that seems suspicious. It could be a malicious link that could redirect you to a phishing website. If it is an unknown attachment, don’t download it. It might contain malware. Always verify the source of the link.
Use trusted URL scanners to verify the links before clicking on them. Another important tip is for users not to skip updates. Never skip updates, they comprise bug fixes for some of the harmful vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers to gain access to your system and all the data. Keeping software and applications updated also ensures that it performs optimally.
Again, users are advised to invest in good VPN. Keeping your identity secure and anonymous online is highly important to reduce the susceptibility of becoming targeted by hackers who can track your activity online and know your location. It is where investing in a good VPN comes into picture. It helps you stay anonymously and securely browse internet while automatically blocking trackers that collect your activity data.
It is also important for you to be aware of the latest threats, because hackers love taking advantage of their victim’s lack of awareness of cyber threats. Therefore, by becoming aware of the latest cyber threats you are already staying one step ahead of them. Through awareness of threats, you could proactively implement best practices and measures to prevent the threats.
Some of the easy ways to keep track of latest threats is through the news and independent threat intelligence sources like Department of Homeland Security, Virus Total, FBI, and SANS, and news. One other way to beat hackers is to avoid sharing your personal information online.
Be careful while sharing your information online whether it is a website or a social media application. Keep your account private on social media and keep track of your activity online. Hackers look for publicly available information that they can exploit to carry out their attacks. They use the open-source intelligence that they gather from publicly available sources to tailor attacks.
For example, they might use personal information they found online to craft convincible phishing campaigns that their targets would be more susceptible to.
