5 Cybersecurity Threats We Should Avoid in 2020
The improvement and development of new techniques are visible in the sphere of the digital world. There is no difference in internet security, both in terms of threats and protection. New cybersecurity threats appear daily and cyber attacks are more and more frequent.
Hackers attack business systems, personal computers, and find different ways to exploit them. To keep yourself safe, you should be aware of the internet security threats that you are most likely to encounter. Therefore, don’t wait any longer to learn more about cyber attacks.
5 Vicious Cybersecurity Threats for 2020
Take a look at our list of the 5 cybersecurity threats you should be aware of in 2020.
1. Ransomware
Protecting your data is one of your priorities, especially if you are starting a business. Businesses place more importance on their data and confidential information than anything else. It is for this reason that ransomware attacks are becoming more and more common.
Experts predict that in 2020 the number of ransomware attacks will reach a record high.
But, what exactly is a ransomware attack?
If you’ve never heard of it, the name suggests the answer. Ransomware is “ malicious software that takes personal data hostage. Ransomware does this by encrypting personal data and then asking its owner to send money in exchange for the key that will decrypt it. ” This means that the software reaches your data and unless you pay the ransom, it can potentially destroy them.
2. Cryptomining
hackers go out of their way to carry out brilliant cyber attacks and it is not for their pleasure. The primary purpose of these attacks is always the same: to make money.
This is the reason why these hackers tend to steal directly from you or try to be even more devious: by making you their own workforce.
This is exactly what crypto mining or crypto-jacking is all about.
It refers to malicious software and components developed to take control of a computer’s resources and subsequently use them to mine cryptocurrency without asking the user’s permission.
Let’s break it down a bit:
(1)A hacker manipulates you to be able to install a crypto miner
(2)They use the processing power of your computer
(3)Your computer becomes a real mine for crypto-currencies
(4)You have no idea what’s going on
(5)The only symptom is that your computer is idle
Here’s how your computer becomes a gold mine for the hacker who leaves you in the dark.
To protect yourself from crypto-jacking, keep your antiviruses up to date and functional and on the other hand, activate ad blockers in your browser.
3. Phishing
One of the most effective ways for a hacker to steal your confidential information is to pretend to be someone they are not.
The technique of phishing consists of “ making the victim believe that he is addressing a trusted third party — bank, administration, etc.” — to obtain personal information: word password, number of credit card, number, or photocopy of the national identity card, birth date, etc. “
Advanced threats require advanced protection measures. Stay tuned for new protection systems and software updates to protect your data.
In other words, the hacker sends you an email or a message claiming to be:
(1)Your CEO
(2)Google
(3)Another Company
(4)A Trusted Site
If you don’t realize that the message is a scam and you click on the link you were sent, open the attachment, or in most cases just open the message you trigger the attack. In other words, this means that the hacker will have access to your:
(1)Credit Card Details
(2)Passwords
(3)Identifiers
(4)Company Information
(5)Personal Information
In order to avoid becoming a victim of phishing, you need to be aware of the circumstances under which it occurs. Therefore, educate yourself on how to recognize them and protect yourself and your business from potential financial and business losses.
4. Botnets
Hackers have another technique to make your computer their servant and harness its power to carry out large-scale attacks and rip you off. Here’s what botnets are and how they work.
As defined in the Oxford Dictionary; a botnet is a network of private computers infected with malware and controlled as a group without the knowledge of their owner.
Here is how it works:
(1)Hacker creates malware to take control of thousands of computers.
(2)This software makes your computer and thousands of others its servants and uses its power to carry out large-scale attacks.
(3)This network of hacked computers is controlled remotely by a command & control network.
Once the hacker creates this powerful tool and hacked into the computers, he begins to attack systems, steal information, threatens to take down the system, and demand money. It is one of the most significant cybersecurity threats.
The worst part is that it is difficult to detect that you are part of a botnet. You may notice that your computer is slower than usual but this is your only clue.
To protect yourself from the botnet threat, make sure your antivirus protection and security software are still working properly.
5. Viruses and Parasites
Although viruses and parasites have been around for a long time, stealing security and causing many attacks on the internet, they remain a great threat to anyone with a computer.
With every year to come and security systems that bring innovation and improvement, viruses and parasites are becoming more dangerous and resilient than ever.
Computer viruses and parasites are harmful, malicious, and destructive programs designed to infect systems, destroy data, and thus prevent the network from functioning properly.
Viruses and parasites work the same way they:
(1)Are attached to an attachment, a document, a system
(2)Enter your system
(3)Start to multiply among themselves
(4)Infect your system
If your system is unprotected or has inadequate protection, you can easily become a victim of viruses or computer parasites and hence also a victim of many other powerful cyber attacks.
Make sure you protect all of your devices by installing anti-spyware and always keeping it up to date. It will help you protect your system and fend off viruses and parasites before they reach you.
Conclusion
The year 2020 will certainly bring many threats to cybersecurity. You are constantly faced with the risk of being tricked, swindled, or even exploited by hackers. Make sure you secure your computer and system so that you don’t fall victim to a cyber attack.
I hope the above list of threats will help you detect potential hackers or scammers in the future. However, calling in a specialist can help you avoid all cyber attacks. Prevention is better than cure. Having advanced antivirus protection like Protegent Complete Security Software is very necessary to keep your data protected from above cyber threats. Also, maintaining a good backup system is a crucial decision for users.
