Cyber security, also known as information security, is the practice of protecting computers and networks from unauthorized access and abuse by users as well as external attacks such as malware, viruses, worms, and hackers. Cybersecurity will always be an ongoing battle because there are always new methods to crack through security measures in place today. Fortunately, there are many tools available to help improve cyber security. We’ll cover some of them here so you can make the most informed decisions about how best to secure your business and your personal information.
History of Cyber Security
The history of cyber security dates back to the early days of computing. One of the first documented cyber attacks occurred in 1998, when a group of hackers known as the Morris Worm took down 10% of the internet. In response to this and other attacks, the US government created the National Infrastructure Protection Center in 1999. Ten years later, China launched an attack on Google by hacking into their servers and stealing intellectual property data.
Understanding the basics of cyber security
When it comes to cyber security, there are a few basics that everyone should understand.
1. Cyber security is the practice of protecting electronic information from unauthorized access or theft. This includes protecting data stored on computers, networks, and mobile devices, as well as ensuring that these devices are properly configured and used in a secure manner.
2. Cyber security threats come in many forms, including viruses, malware, phishing attacks, and Denial of Service (DoS) attacks.
3. You can help protect yourself from these threats by using strong passwords, keeping your software up to date, and being careful about what you click on and download.
4. Maintaining updated software is another essential part of any cyber security plan. Updates typically contain patches that fix vulnerabilities before they're discovered by hackers and publicized on social media sites like Twitter.
The 10 most important things you need to know about cyber security
In a world where technology is constantly evolving, it's important to stay up-to-date on the latest cyber security threats. Here are the 10 most important things you need to know about cyber security.
1. Your data can be stolen by hackers and there is no way to prevent this from happening.
2. When personal information like your name, address or social security number is compromised, it can take years for you to restore your credit rating.
3. Hackers can also steal money directly from your bank account or create new fraudulent accounts in your name.
4. Hackers use malware, computer software that can infiltrate and damage data - as well as viruses which attach themselves to programs or files sent over the internet in order to enter your computer and steal information such as passwords and credit card numbers when used online.
5. It is possible to combat these kinds of attacks with good cyber security practices like keeping your operating system updated, using strong passwords and changing them regularly, installing anti-virus software on all devices, and avoiding clicking links in emails or opening attachments unless you're 100% sure they're safe.
6. If an attack does happen and sensitive information has been exposed to the hacker (such as banking details), then experts recommend notifying all of the relevant banks immediately so they can be monitored for any suspicious activity.
7. It is also important to check if you have adequate cyber insurance coverage so that if something bad happens, it won't put your finances at risk.
8. That said, there are many misconceptions about cyber security, for example, some people believe their information is secure because they don't have anything valuable stored on their device, but the truth is, if someone breaks into your device, even if nothing valuable was taken, you'll still suffer consequences because attackers can delete or encrypt all of your other files and make them inaccessible.
9. Another misconception might be that just because we never hear about major hacks occurring anymore means our digital data is safe, but according to research from IBM this past year showed 75% of successful attacks were never detected.
10. A recent survey found that 94% of respondents feel they could be hacked at any time, with one-third fearing they could be hacked today. With this in mind, it's important to take precautions like using two-factor authentication and backing up data regularly.
Types of Attacks
There are many different types of cyber security attacks, but they can broadly be categorized into four main types.
1. The first type of attack is a Denial-of-Service (DoS) attack. A DoS attack aims to prevent the victim from using their service or resource. For example, a company may become unavailable because the hacker has caused their website to shut down by overloading it with too much traffic.
2. The second type of attack is called a Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attack. DDoS attacks also aim to prevent the victim from using their service or resource, but instead, they do so by attacking multiple computers at once to overload that server’s capacity.
3. The third type of attack is called Malware. Malware includes viruses and spyware. Viruses are created for one purpose, which is to infect and disrupt systems and data. Spyware captures personal information about you without your knowledge and will most likely then use this information for commercial purposes.
4. The fourth type of attack is Phishing. Phishing emails often appear as coming from trustworthy sources such as banks or social media sites in order to trick people into clicking on links that lead them to fraudulent websites where they might be asked for passwords or other sensitive information like credit card numbers which could then lead to identity theft.
The future of cyber security
As our world becomes increasingly digitized, the need for cyber security will only continue to grow. Businesses of all sizes must be prepared to protect their data and systems from attack, and individuals must be vigilant about their online activity. A robust cyber security strategy should include many layers of protection, as well as proactive monitoring by skilled staff. IT professionals can implement a number of measures in order to create a strong defence against hackers or other malicious actors. Encryption techniques are one way that businesses can shield their data from unauthorized access. SSL encryption provides an extra layer of protection for sensitive information that is transmitted over a network connection.
Hackers have proven adept at breaking through some encrypted channels, but it remains a reliable method of protecting information with minimal cost or complexity. It's also important to note that encryption alone won't keep your data safe, you'll also need antivirus software and firewalls on your system to make sure you're protected at every level. Regular backups are also key without them, you could lose everything if something happens to your computer or hard drive.
GlobalData, the data analytics predicted that the industry would hit to $20.6 billion by 2025.
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