4 Types of Cyber Attacks and Why to Implement Cybersecurity Services

In today’s tech-savvy era, our entire lives are embedded into our devices. From laptops and smartphones to doorbell cameras and voice assistants, our personal and business information is available through a plethora of tech-based platforms. Cybersecurity services have thus become an essential aspect of business.

This heavy reliance on technology means that we are more susceptible than ever to cyber attacks where criminals can access this information. In this article, discover the 4 most common types of cyber attacks and how to protect against them by utilizing cybersecurity services.

1. Phishing 

Phishing cyber attacks are one of the most prominent forms of cyber attacks used by cyber criminals with 3.4 billion fake messages sent each day. During a phishing attack, the cyber criminal attempts to gain your trust by sending an e-mail or text message that appears to be sent from a reliable source. The message may appear to come from a friend or co-worker, the IRS, an electric company, or even your local bank.

To protect yourself against phishing attacks, it is crucial to educate yourself and your employees on the types of messages that cyber criminals send. If a message seems suspicious, avoid clicking links or downloading any attachments and contact the alleged sender by phone or through other means to verify if the message is a legitimate correspondence. 

It can be extremely helpful to hire a managed IT service to improve business cybersecurity. 

 2. Brute-Force

A brute-force attack is one of the most time-consuming methods used by cyber criminals, as it consists of trying a variety of passwords and usernames to gain access into a system. Often, they use the dictionary to gain a list of common words that may be used as passwords. Once they identify a combination, they can use it to gain access to other websites and e-mail accounts.

The best way to prevent a brute-force attack is to use an uncommon password that is difficult to guess. Avoid using information like your last name and birthdate and instead use a series of symbols, numbers, and letters. Likewise, be sure to use different passwords and usernames for each account and enable two-factor authentication when offered.

3. Malware

Malware is a type of software that cyber criminals disguise within applications or other files that you may download on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. Once the software is installed on your device, it can record your keystrokes to obtain your passwords and financial account information. 

To avoid downloading malware without your knowledge, avoid downloading applications or files from unknown sources and install a firewall. Businesses can also benefit by using IT services to keep software updated to offer maximum protection.

4. Credential Stuffing

Unlike a brute-force attack, passwords and usernames are easily obtained by cyber criminals with a credential stuffing attack. This is because they purchase large lists of stolen credentials that have been gained as a result of phishing attacks or other illicit methods. Many people who have information featured within these stolen databases are unaware of it and it can be difficult to detect that the accounts have been accessed until harm has already been done.

Cybersecurity Services

To ensure that you are not the victim of a credential stuffing attack, be sure to use two-factor authentication, avoid using your email address as your username, and look into a dark web monitoring service that can alert you to data breaches that reveal your personal or business information. IT and cybersecurity services can aid in implementing these practices for businesses.

Need guidance or more information on how to improve your cybersecurity and prevent malicious attacks? Set up a meeting with Envision Consulting today to discuss your business technology needs.