4 Cyber-Attacks You Should Look Up For In 2024

The top 4 cyber-attacks you should look up for In 2024

Life today has become far more comfortable because of various digital devices and the internet to support them. There is a flip side to everything good, and that also applies to the digital world today. The internet has brought in a positive change in our lives today, but with that, there is also an enormous challenge in protecting your data. This gives rise to cyberattacks. In this article, we will discuss the cyberattacks to watch out for in 2024 and how they can be prevented.

Types of cyber attacks to watch out for 2024

1. Malware Attack

This is one of the most common types of cyberattacks. “Malware” refers to malicious software viruses, including worms, spyware, ransomware, adware, and trojans. 

The trojan virus disguises itself as legitimate software. Ransomware blocks access to the network’s key components, whereas spyware is software that steals all your confidential data without your knowledge. Adware is software that displays advertising content, such as banners, on a user’s screen. 

Malware breaches a network through a vulnerability. When the user clicks a dangerous link, it downloads an email attachment, or an infected pen drive is used.

2. Phishing Attack

Phishing attacks are one of the most prominent and widespread types of cyberattacks. It is a type of social engineering attack wherein an attacker impersonates a trusted contact and sends the victim fake mail.

Unaware of this, the victim opens the mail and clicks on the malicious link or opens the mail’s attachment. By doing so, attackers gain access to confidential information and account credentials. They can also install malware through a phishing attack.

3. Password Attack

It is a form of attack wherein a hacker cracks your password with various programs and password cracking tools like Aircrack, Cain, Abel, John the Ripper, Hashcat, etc. There are different types of password attacks, like brute-force attacks, dictionary attacks, and keylogger attacks.

4. Man-in-the-Middle Attack

A Man-in-the-Middle Attack (MITM) is also known as an eavesdropping attack. In this attack, an attacker comes in between two-party communication, i.e., the attacker hijacks the session between a client and host. By doing so, hackers steal and manipulate data.

How to Prevent Cyber Attacks?

Although we had a look at several ways to prevent the different types of cyberattacks we discussed, let’s summarize and look at a few personal tips that you can adopt to avoid a cyberattack on the whole.

1. Change your passwords regularly and use strong alphanumeric passwords, which are difficult to crack. Refrain from using too complicated passwords that you tend to forget. Do not use the same password twice.
2. Update both your operating system and applications regularly. This is a primary prevention method for any cyberattack. This will remove vulnerabilities that hackers tend to exploit. Use trusted and legitimate anti-virus protection software.
3. Use a firewall and other network security tools, such as Intrusion prevention systems, Access control, Application security, etc.
4. Avoid opening emails from unknown senders. Scrutinize the emails you receive for loopholes and significant errors. 
5. Make use of a VPN. This makes sure that it encrypts the traffic between the VPN server and your device. 
6. Regularly back up your data. According to many security professionals, it is ideal to have three copies of your data on two different media types and another copy in an off-site location (cloud storage). Hence, even in the course of a cyberattack, you can erase your system’s data and restore it with a recently performed backup.
7. Employees should be aware of cybersecurity principles. They must know the various types of cyberattacks and ways to tackle them.
8. Use Two-Factor or Multi-Factor Authentication. With two-factor authentication, it requires users to provide two different authentication factors to verify themselves. When you are asked for over two additional authentication methods apart from your username and password, we term it multi-factor authentication. This proves to be a vital step in securing your account.
9. Secure your Wi-Fi networks and avoid using public Wi-Fi without using a VPN.
10. Safeguard your mobile, as mobiles are also a cyberattack target. Install apps from only legitimate and trusted sources, and make sure to keep your device updated.

These are the tips you must implement to protect your systems and networks from a cyberattack.

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