When it comes to looking at the different threats online, you might easily become overwhelmed. There is a huge number of potentially business-ending threats out there and it’s not just the ‘usual suspects’ like ransomware and spyware. You might even find that once you know about all of the threats, you won’t want to go on the internet again at all; but, on the other hand, you might take the view that if you know about what kinds of threats there are, you can defend against them better.
After all, the more you know, the more you can prevent.
The threat of phishing
This is something to look out for. You might find that you get a couple of these a month if you get a lot of emails. Phishing emails are sent from companies and individuals, which have accumulated your data from companies that you have entrusted with this information. Either these companies have been hit with a cyberattack themselves and you have just been unlucky to have been involved, or someone within these companies has stolen your data and is using it for their own gain or has already sold it on.
This is unfortunately something that is pretty much outside your control, but you should be aware of this. These emails are often sent with a link, and if you click on the link or download something from it, you will have your device infected with a virus. This malware will either be something like Trojans or Spyware, which can be used to track your activity or completely take over your device; or you might have something a little worse come onto your system, such as ransomware.
Ransomware can be devastating if you don’t have the files on your computer backed up. This locks your account and, unless you pay the ransom, you won’t be able to get your data back. It might even be a case of if you pay the ransom the hacker won’t allow you to have the device back unless you pay them far more. This can be an irreversible issue and is not worth the carelessness of clicking on a link on an unknown email.
Phishing is an incredibly common form of attack that is used everywhere.
You should also be aware of spoofing
Spoofing is the act of sending an email or having a call from a spammer that seems completely legitimate, but the email address does not. It is the act of sending out an email using someone else’s address, for example, having the email signed off from a Jane Doe, but the email is James123456002. This can be used to get information out of you or to spread a virus as a phishing attack. Being aware of spoofing means that you are being wary of where an email is being sent from, without you learning the hard way.
Final Thought
Knowing how you can make safe choices when it comes to protecting your devices can make all the difference. These are two of the more common methods of cyberattack that you can look out for.
