How To Prevent Cyber Attacks

What is a cyber attack?  

A cyber attack is a cybercrime that uses one or more computers to target a single or numerous computers or networks. A cyber attack can be used to intentionally disable machines, steal data, or launch additional attacks from a compromised computer. Ransomware, phishing, malware, and denial of service are just a few of the tools used by cybercriminals to start a cyber attack. 

The most common type of Cyber Security attacks comprises the following list:

Malware

Malware refers to a wide range of threats, comprising worms, viruses, and spyware. When a user opens a "planted" harmful link or email attachment, that is used to install malicious code inside the system, malware exploits a vulnerability to breach a network. The most common type of malware includes viruses, trojans, worms, ransomware, spyware.

Phishing 

Phishing attacks are very frequent, and they include sending a large number of counterfeit emails to unsuspecting users while pretending to be from a trustworthy source.

Man-in-the-Middle Attacks

When an attacker intercepts a two-party transaction and inserts himself in the middle, this is known as a middleman attack. By disrupting traffic, cyber intruders can steal and change data from there.

Denial-of-Service

DoS attacks overload resources and bandwidth by flooding systems, servers, and/or networks with traffic. The system is unable to process and fulfill legitimate requests as a result.

SQL Injections

When an attacker uses server query language (SQL) to inject malicious code into a server, the server is forced to divulge protected information.

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Cross-site Scripting

In a cross-site scripting attack, malicious scripts are embedded in information from reliable sources. The malicious code is attached to the dynamic content delivered to the victim's browser.

Rootkits

Rootkits are hidden inside legitimate software, allowing them to take control of a system remotely and acquire administrative access. The rootkit is then used by the attacker to steal passwords, keys, and credentials, and also retrieve sensitive information.

Zero-day Exploit:

Exploiting the vulnerable systems when it becomes new and recently announced — before a fix is available and/or applied — is known as a Zero-day Exploit. Zero-day attackers take advantage of a newly discovered vulnerability within a brief window of time when no solutions or preventative measures are available. Thus, safeguarding against zero-day attacks necessitates proactive detection, continuous monitoring, and agile threat management practices.

Password Attack:

Passwords are the most common technique of gaining access to the secured information system, which makes them an appealing target for cybercriminals. An attacker can obtain access to confidential or vital data and systems, as well as influence and control them, by gaining access to a person's password.

Internet of Things (IoT) Attacks:

Although internet connectivity on nearly any device provides convenience and ease for users, it also presents attackers with a growing—almost infinite—number of access points to exploit and cause havoc. Attackers can breach an entry point and use it as a gate to exploit other devices in the network because of the interconnectivity of things.

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How to Prevent Cyber Attacks?

Knowing the many types of protocols, tools, exploits, and resources utilized by malicious actors might prevent you from getting cyber attacks. Moreover, knowing where and how attacks are likely to occur ensures that you're taking proactive efforts to safeguard your systems. Let us now discuss the most common factors which could prevent these Cyber attacks. Here we are going to address the best ten factors as follows:

1. Conduct Audits Regularly

Cybersecurity audits provide a comprehensive, 360-degree assessment of your company's security postures. It recognizes the vulnerabilities, risks, and threats that companies face, as well as the impact that these risks have on network security, physical security, data security, system security, and operational security.

2. Bring Awareness To Your Staff About Cyber Attacks 

The key to a successful security awareness program is ensuring that the appropriate training is given to the appropriate personnel. Cyber threats affect all users; however, some staff has a higher threat profile than others. For instance, your Finance and HR departments would be regularly targeted because of their privileged access to confidential information. If a senior executive falls for the scam, the consequences could be disastrous, jeopardizing your company's overall security.

3. Keep Your Software System Updated

As your operating system controls all of your computer's functions, it might be a vulnerable target for cybercriminals. Many built-in features in operating systems aid in the prevention of attacks. The issue, though, is that cyber risks are continually evolving. That is why operating system vendors give updates regularly: To stay on top of the ever-changing threats posed by cybercriminals.

4. Installing Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR)

Endpoint threat detection and response (ETDR), often known as EDR, is a comprehensive endpoint security system that blends real-time continuous monitoring and endpoint data collection with rules-based automated reaction and analysis capabilities. Installing EDR allows you to monitor and gather data from endpoints that may indicate a security threat, analyze the data to find patterns in the threats, automate the removal or containment of detected threats, and also alert security professionals, forensics and analysis tools are used for research on threats identification and find the suspicious activities.

5. Deploying Next-Generation Firewalls (NGFW)

NGFW is a network security device that goes beyond a typical stateful firewall in terms of capabilities. Modern threats like advanced malware and application-layer attacks can be blocked with NGFWs and access control. A next-generation firewall incorporates the following features:

• Stateful inspection, for instance, is a standard firewall feature.
• Intrusion prevention system that is integrated.
• App awareness and control to identify and prohibit risky apps.
• Sources of threat intelligence.
• Paths should be upgraded to include future data feeds.
• Techniques for dealing with ever-changing security threats.

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6. Installing Spam Filters And Anti-Malware Software

Installing a spam filter application detects unsolicited, unwanted, and virus-infected emails and blocks them from reaching the inbox of a user. A spam filter, like other types of filtering software, looks for certain criteria to use when making decisions.

Anti-Malware is a kind of software program designed to defend computers and information technology (IT) systems from malicious programs, also known as malware. Installing Anti-Malware software scans a computer system for malware to prevent, find, and delete it.

7. Backup Encrypt Data

An encrypted backup is an additional security mechanism that organizations use to protect their data if it is stolen, misplaced, or otherwise compromised. Symmetric and Asymmetric are the common types of encryption that are implemented based on cryptography algorithms.

8. Use Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication (also known as 2FA) is a security solution that needs two different forms of identification to gain access to something. Two-factor authentication is a security feature that prevents unwanted users from getting access to an account using only a stolen password. Users may be more vulnerable to password breaches than they know, especially if they use the same password on many websites. Password theft could also occur when people download software or click on links in emails. Using Two-factor authentication aids in strengthening the online account security, even a smartphone, or a door. 

9. Secure Confidential Data 

Data Confidentiality is concerned with preventing information from being disclosed by ensuring that access to the data is restricted to those who are authorized or by portraying the data in such a manner that its semantics are only accessible to those who have access to crucial information.  Confidentiality is ensured by implementing several mechanisms such as file encryption, data access management, device management, etc.

10. Invest in cyber security insurance

As per US CISA, cyber insurance alleviate losses from cyber incidents such as “data theft or/and/ destruction, denial of service attacks, hacking, extortion demands, data breach-related crisis management activities, and legal claims for fraud, defamation, and privacy violations.” Legal defense, customer reparations, Data recovery, system forensics, and other expenditures are covered by cyber insurance coverage. As standard commercial insurance policies do not normally cover cybersecurity incidents, businesses require special independent cyber insurance coverage.

Conclusion: 

Cyberattacks are becoming more complex and diverse, with a different form of attack for each malicious objective. However, cybersecurity preventative tactics vary by attack type, strong security practices, and basic IT hygiene are generally effective in reducing these threats. We have learned such various preventive measures in brief and also have successfully comprehended cyberattacks and various types that invoke in breaching the security.