The global cost of cybercrime will surpass the $10.5 trillion annual mark by 2025.
This is, without a doubt, an astounding figure. Unfortunately, it also means that the risk of suffering damages due to a cyberattack are extremely high.
What are cybersecurity threats the most dangerous? How to prevent your network from attacks? What types of threats exist?
In our detailed article, you will find answers to all these questions and more.
Let’s dive right in.
What Is A Cybersecurity Threat?
Cybersecurity threats are any form of activity that compromises your network’s integrity. In many cases, these threats come from digital criminals aiming to take advantage of an individual in your team or your entire organisation.
The goal of cybercriminals is to damage computer networks, steal data, extract valuable assets, extort their victims in exchange for money, and conduct other forms of crimes online.
Common categories of current cybersecurity threats include malicious software, social engineering, man-in-the-middle or MitM attacks, DDoS attacks, and SQL injections. We will cover each one later in this article.
Digital threats can come from different sources: individual hackers, criminal groups, and even malicious team members who want to commit illegal acts.
Therefore, it’s essential for all businesses to have a comprehensive cybersecurity system to mitigate all potential scenarios.
Generally speaking, cybersecurity threats can be divided into two categories: natural and artificial.
- Natural threats are disasters like floods, hurricanes, fires, and similar events outside of human control.
- Artificial threats come directly from humans, and they can be intentional or unintentional.
- Unintentional threats arise due to carelessness, inattention, and from similar errors. For example, a person installs software that isn’t required for the job, but can damage the system functionality and lead to data theft.
- Intentional threats mean cyberattacks by criminals, and each cyberattack leads to financial and intellectual property loss.
Why Is Cybersecurity Or Protection From Cyberattacks Important?
Cybersecurity measures are critical in various industries and scenarios.
For example, they help protect confidential details like medical data, intellectual property, and government information from theft and its subsequent use.
Yet today it feels like the chances of falling victim to cybercriminals is at an all-time high.
This is the reason why everything that is stored online should be protected by multiple security layers.
Both everyday users and large companies alike employ various cloud services for personal data storage.
Even giant cloud services like AWS and Google Drive are not immune to cyberthreats like:
- New forms of attacks that feature innovative technologies
- Lack of cybersecurity knowledge at the employee level
- Outdated online security best practices
It is clear that companies and organisations are the main targets of attackers. But these criminals can exploit a wide range of areas, including your cloud services.
Sources And Types Of Cyberthreats
Before we proceed to the most critical security threats, it’s important to understand where threats come from and vulnerabilities that may be exploited.
Cloud Breaches
Although cloud data storage is a more secure option compared to on-premise storage, it remains vulnerable to external attacks unless all appropriate security measures are taken.
In other words, you have to protect your cloud environment to minimise the chances of attackers accessing your company’s information.
Mobile Attacks
People use mobile devices to store almost all their confidential information. So, fraud often happens in a mobile environment.
Users should think about mobile device security and use tested antivirus software.
IoT Attacks
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a term used to describe a network of smart devices that connect to the internet. In simple terms, they help create a better office and home experience. For example: smart refrigerators or smart luggage.
The network can create a user-friendly and comfortable environment that makes life easier. However, if one link in this network is breached, it can infect the entire network.
Thus, IoT data security best practices need to be implemented along with this innovative technology.
Remote Collaborators
The inherent security dangers of remote work are not new. Nonetheless, it will be one of the biggest challenges for cybersecurity professionals in 2023.
Cybercriminals know that it is more challenging for companies to ensure a high security level on employees’ devices while working remotely.
Ransomware, phishing, and social engineering attacks will likely increase with remote work, so companies and the professionals they work with need to make the appropriate adjustments.