It can feel like there’s a new cybersecurity threat every
few months. A new strain of ransomware, called Clop, is the latest threat to
Windows 10 users.
Experts always tell users to adopt best practices in
response. But it can be easy to wonder what you need to know about cybersecurity.
What is the best practice? Thankfully, it’s easy to get a
grip on it once you understand how it works.
We’ve gathered the cybersecurity basics you need to
learn. Read on to learn more.
Understanding Cyber Security
One of the most common forms of cybercrime comes via ‘phishing’.
This is where people get emails that seem to be from a
legitimate source. These emails may tell them about fraudulent activity on
their account, and they are given a link to log in.
The person enters their details on a fake page. This
hands over their sensitive information to the phisher. That might be
their login details or credit card information.
Yet cybersecurity refers to more than setting good passwords
and being vigilant for phishing emails. It also refers to maintaining databases
and managing network access.
That involves data, hardware, and software. All three of
these areas are vulnerable to attacks from cybercriminals.
Hackers might hack into your system to access data, disrupt
your network, or even use your business resources. Why?
Botnet Attacks
Some attackers leave code in your system that turns your
machines into bots in their network. This lets attackers use them in a botnet
attack.
In a botnet attack, all the enlisted machines perform the
same action at the same time.
This is what happened during the distributed denial of
service (DDoS) attack in 2016. So many machines ‘pinged’ the Dyn network
that the extra traffic crashed their system. It brought down Twitter,
CNN, Netflix, and Reddit, among others.
Smart devices connected to the Internet of Things (IoT) can
be vulnerable to this. New tools don’t always let users change
the access details from the factory settings. They stay stuck in
their factory settings.
That means attackers can add smart devices to a bot
network. It also means attackers can often access a system via the weakest
point – an unsecured smart device.
Ransomware
In a worst-case scenario, attackers can infect your system
with ransomware. This type of malware encrypts files, only decrypting them
if a ransom is paid.
The WannaCry ransomware epidemic of 2018 was this kind
of attack. It ended up costing the British
NHS £92 million.
No guarantee paying the ransom will see your files
decrypted.
Protecting Yourself and Others
Early computer users worried most about computer
viruses. Here, you can see how the threats have evolved. Many of them are very
sophisticated, and it makes them harder to deflect.
There are still things you can – and should – do to protect
yourself. If you work for a company, being well-versed in cybersecurity basics
also protects the business.
Access to Information
Does everyone need access to specific files and folders?
Restricting access is a simple way to cut down the threat of unauthorized
access to data.
Make sure all staff members get training in using strong
passwords. Employees need to follow best practices, like not writing down
passwords.
On your home PC, a simple thing you can do is to create
separate accounts for administrator rights and ordinary users.
If a hacker accesses your system, the lack of admin
privileges limits the number of actions they can perform.
On devices, two-factor authentication or biometric
verification can help reduce access.
Manipulation of Data
Access to data isn’t the only problem. Attackers can also
delete or edit data.
File permissions help to control data breaches. Version
control can also help identify unauthorized alterations to data.
Regular backups are the most common way to manage the loss
or alteration of data. Cloud backups are an excellent way to maintain the
safety of data since it is kept off-site. If a physical disaster befell your
office, you’d still have your data.
Physical backups on removable hard drives also mitigate
against ransomware. This is because ransomware can only encrypt files it can
access.
If you disconnect the hard drive after a backup? This keeps
the data safe from ransomware.
Regular Updates
Developers release daily updates for both hardware and
software. These updates help to plug gaps in the code that can be exploited by
attackers.
Keeping your firewall and antivirus software, up-to-date
will keep out most threats. Remember to install updates for your operating
system and other software you use.
Not installing security patches or updates leaves your
system vulnerable. Include these updates as part of your security maintenance
routine.
It’s also worth designing a disaster recovery plan, so you
know what to do if the worst does happen.
Progressing From Cyber Security Basics
If you want to learn more about cybersecurity, check out a
certification. Many of them run a CISSP Code of Ethics which
gives you an idea of their values.
CISSP stands for Certified Information Systems Security
Professional. Getting CISSP-certified will help you gain the confidence
you need to manage the cybersecurity matters for your own business.
It will also help you to start a new career in cybersecurity.
Or these certifications can help you add a unique skill set within an
existing job.
Just be aware that cybersecurity isn’t a single career
discipline. It covers a wide range of jobs at a variety of levels. There are
also many opportunities for non-technical personnel. Don’t let it put you off
if you don’t have a degree in computer science.
Boost Your Cyber Security
Now you understand cybersecurity basics you can start to put
these measures into place. Within home computing, they help give you the peace
of mind you need to surf the internet with ease.
Within a company setting, these basics can help guard your
customer data and keep your business running. Bring them into a routine to make
them second nature for all employees.
Why not check out our other articles on our blog for more
helpful tips?
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