Last Updated on August 13, 2025 by Arnav Sharma
As technology advances, cybercriminals are always looking for ways to exploit vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks. Malicious individuals can infiltrate your devices and breach your sensitive information using a variety of computer security threats. This article aims to provide an overview of the different types of cyber risks and the measures you can take to protect yourself.
What are common cyber threats?
Malware
Malware is a type of malicious software that can infect your computer or network without your knowledge or consent. It includes viruses, spyware, and worms that can gain access to your system or network to steal sensitive data or disrupt your system operations. To prevent malware from infecting your devices, it is essential to install reputable antivirus software and avoid downloading programs and files from untrusted sources.
Phishing attacks
Phishing attacks are a type of social engineering tactic that involves sending fraudulent emails or messages designed to trick individuals into providing their personal information or login credentials to malicious actors. Phishing attacks often utilize official-looking websites and email messages to gain access to sensitive data, such as social security numbers or banking credentials. To prevent phishing attacks, it is essential to be aware of such attacks and practice safe email habits.
Ransomware
Ransomware is a type of malware that involves encrypting your personal information on your device, stealing it and demanding payment for the decryption key used to unlock the data. Ransomware attacks usually take the form of phishing emails linked to an infected attachment or by infiltrating your device through a security vulnerability. Preventing ransomware involves regular updates to your system and security awareness training, whereby individuals can avoid becoming unwitting victims of such attacks.
How can you protect against cybersecurity threats?
Cybersecurity best practices
Awareness of cybersecurity risks is the first step towards protecting yourself from cyber threats. Cybersecurity best practices include creating strong passwords, avoiding suspicious websites and emails, and regularly updating your devices.
Firewalls and antivirus software
Another way to safeguard your devices is through firewalls and antivirus software. Firewalls help to protect your devices by creating a barrier between your local network and the internet. Antivirus software, on the other hand, scans your computer regularly to detect and remove any malicious software that may have infected your devices.
Strong authentication
Strong authentication measures, such as using multi-factor authentication, can help protect against unauthorized access to your devices. Multi-factor authentication requires individuals to present at least two forms of authentication to gain access, which increases security.
How do denial of service and distributed denial of service attacks work?
Attack methods of a DDoS
Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks involve overloading a server or website with traffic to make it inaccessible. DDoS attacks involve hijacking a network of devices to flood a server with traffic to disrupt its operations. DDoS attacks are very hard to identify, and once launched, can disrupt a network or server for several days or even weeks.
Preventing and mitigating DDoS
Preventing DDoS attacks involves the use of an advanced security solution, which can monitor traffic to your website and filter out malicious traffic. Regular backup of your systems and having a quick response plan can also help reduce the effects of such an attack. Another way to prevent DDoS attacks is by working with your internet service provider to filter out malicious traffic before it reaches your server.
Steps to take after a DDoS attack
If you have suffered a DDoS attack, it is crucial to take immediate action to ensure minimal data loss and recovery time. The first step is disconnecting your devices from the network. This prevents the attacker from gaining access to your devices. After disconnecting your devices, perform a comprehensive diagnostic check on your virus protection and backup your data. If you can identify the attacker’s IP address, notify your internet service provider so that they can take appropriate action. Also, it might be useful to file an incident report with your local law enforcement agency.
What are the potential threats from social engineering attacks?
Understanding social engineering
Social engineering is the use of psychological manipulation techniques to deceive individuals into divulging sensitive information or perform actions that may lead to a security breach. Social engineering tactics include baiting, pretexting, and tailgating, and most are conducted through social media platforms and emails.
Common tactics used by social engineers
Common tactics used by social engineers include impersonating reputable organizations like banks or government agencies, creating urgency or fear, offering freebies or gifts, and targeting specific individuals in an organization. Unfortunately, such attempts are often successful, and the social engineers can gain access to sensitive data or install malware to your devices.
Preventing social engineering attacks
The most effective way to prevent social engineering attacks is through user awareness training. Awareness training can educate individuals on safe browsing habits, how to identify suspicious emails and social media messages, and how to report such incidents. Furthermore, it is essential to minimize sharing sensitive information over the internet and avoid clicking on unknown links or attachments.
What is incident response and how does it work?
Components of a sound incident response plan
Incident response is the process of identifying, analyzing, and managing security breaches effectively. A sound incident response plan must have clearly defined roles and responsibilities for responding to an incident. It should include plans for backup and recovery, forensic analysis and documentation, and communication with stakeholders and other parties.
Steps to take when responding to a security breach
The first step in responding to a security breach is to gather as much information as possible about the breach. This includes determining the scope of the attack and identifying affected systems and devices. The next step is to contain the breach, which involves disconnecting infected devices from the network. After the breach is contained, forensic analysis should be conducted to determine the cause of the breach and steps to take to prevent future cyber threats. Finally, communicate with all stakeholders about the scope of the attack, the measures taken, and response to such an incident.
How to effectively communicate during an incident response event
Effective communication is critical during an incident response event. The incident response team should have a communication plan in place that outlines who should be notified, how information is disseminated, and when updates are provided. Communication should be timely, transparent, and accurate to keep all stakeholders informed of the incident’s progress and actions taken.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity remains a significant concern for individuals and organizations across the globe. Understanding the various types of computer security threats and measures to safeguard your devices can mitigate the risk of cyber attacks and breaches of personal information. A sound incident response plan and communication strategy can minimize the damage caused by an incident and increase the likelihood of rapid recovery.