Understanding how cyber criminals work is important for staying one step ahead of them.
And right now, when there’s more focus on the digital world than ever before, small business leaders can take the opportunity to learn more about the most common cyber threats.
This article outlines the most common types of cyber attack and how you can arm your business against them.
Malware stands for malicious software and is the catch-all term for any piece of software designed to either damage devices or (as is more common) steal important data.
There are many types of malware that can affect your system. Some of the most common include trojans, viruses, ransomware, nagware, adware, spyware and worms.
In 2020 we’ve seen an increase in Surveillanceware (which is used to access sensitive data on devices), and Ransomware attacks (where adversaries encrypt data and demand a ransom).
With phishing attacks, fraudsters pose as reputable companies and send false communications in order to trick people into revealing their personal information or clicking on a malicious link.
Phishing used to be mostly coordinated through emails. But as more people are using their personal mobile devices to access corporate networks, mobile phishing has taken over as the most popular route for phishing attacks.
Hackers are the individuals behind all these threats, creating malware and deploying phishing emails. They specifically like to prey on smaller businesses, because of their often limited security capacity, and the role they play in the wider supply chain. The COVID-19 climate has also made it easier for them to broaden their attacks.
Once a hacker gains access to your network, they can steal, change, destroy or corrupt your data, or take control of your device, and may do a lot of it without your knowledge. So the only real protection against a hacker is preventing them from ever gaining access in the first place.
What should you look out for?
How can you protect against these attacks?
Lookout's hotspot map of threats keeps track of phishing attacks globally, giving the most up to date picture of the threat landscape.
For more detailed information on the tools and technologies you can deploy to keep your organisation safe, check out our blog about protecting your business from cyber and fraud risks.
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