What Is A Cyber Security Threat? Types Of Cyber Security Threats You Should Know

A cyber threat refers to a malicious attempt to disrupt a computer network and steal or damage its data. The way business functions changed radically during the COVID-19 pandemic, with nearly every company around the world moving into the digital space. A 2020 Year End Data Breach QuickView report recently released by Risk Based Security revealed that 37 billion records were compromised last year, with over 3,932 publicly reported data breaches!

This blog will dive deep into the information systems that are vulnerable to different kinds of cyberattacks, boosting your knowledge of the cyber security measures that are available in today’s digital realm.

What Is Cyber Security?

Cyber security involves digital operations that can protect the data networks and information of government agencies, corporate organisations, and individuals.

What Are Cyber Security Threats?

Cyber security threats typically refer to deliberate attacks by an organisation or individual to obtain unauthorised access to another organisation or individual’s network for the capturing of sensitive data.

Cybercriminals are able to access a network’s data more easily when an organisation fails to implement and test technical safeguards, such as authentication, encryption, and firewalls.

5 Most Common Cyber Security Threats You Should Know:

The main cyber security risk is when hackers can gain access to your entire network and steal confidential information.

In the post-pandemic world, it has become crucial for businesses to implement security for safeguarding their network and data more than ever before.

If you aspire to become a cyber security professional, equipped with the skills to protect your enterprise against these invisible threats, you must keep up to date with the new and emerging cyber threats that are becoming more sophisticated every day.

Here’s a list of the most prevalent cyber threats that present-day organisations and individuals must be aware of.

1. Phishing attacks

This relates to fake communication, such as sending malicious emails on a victim’s computer that, if opened, can lead to malware installation or retrieving sensitive information like login credentials and credit card details.

2. Malware attacks

Often referred to as malicious software, this is one of the most common types of cyberattack that is caused by ransomware and viruses, which once installed into the system can damage it by blocking access to the critical network components.

3. Insider threats

Insiders can include third-party vendors, employees, business associates or contractors and misuse legitimate access to an enterprise’s assets for personal or financial gain.

4. Ransomware

This type of cyberattack involves encrypting or locking data on the target system and threatening to publish it by demanding a ransom in exchange.

5. Data breaches

This refers to the theft of data by a malicious attacker, including incomplete data deletion, vulnerable cloud applications and cloud disfigurations, to execute espionage or identity theft.

What Are The Sources Of Cyber Threats?

Cyber threats can originate from anywhere in the world by people trained in using  malicious software tools.

Following is a list of the sources of cyber security threats that support malicious attacks:

• Nation-states – This source originates from a specific country that can attack another country by disrupting military activities, communications, and everyday life.
• Criminal groups - This includes groups of individuals who leverage spam, spyware, phishing, and malware to execute system disruption and digital fraud.
• Hackers - This refers to individuals who are motivated by a personal gain to exploit vulnerabilities and breach defences within a computer network.
• Terrorist associations – Such groups have the power to exploit critical infrastructure, as well as destroy or infiltrate network systems to compromise military equipment, cause mass casualties, disrupt the economy and threaten national security.
• Corporate spies – These people conduct business espionage to disrupt a competitor’s business or make a financial profit by stealing trade secrets, attacking vital infrastructure or acquiring information about upcoming political agenda.

What Are The Best Practices To Protect Digital Systems From Cyber Threats?

As we can't gauge the amount of damage that cyber threats can bring upon us, it is important to be aware of countermeasures that can identify a flaw in the security system regularly.

Let’s take a look at some of the best practices within the field of cyber security that can protect you from all kinds of threats.

• Creating an insider protection programme to prevent employees from misusing company information
• Training employees on recognising and responding to cyber threats by conducting comprehensive cyber security awareness programmes
• Staying up to date with the evolving compliance regulations
• Building a cyber incident response plan to recover quickly from an attack by preparing for inevitable and emerging threats
• Regularly updating security software and systems to backup network data 

If you aspire to a cyber security career path, then choosing the right educational programme is crucial to prepare yourself for top cyber security job roles.

London School of Business and Finance in Singapore (LSBF) offers international candidates a Bachelor of Science (Honours) Cyber Security Networks programme that can help you gain real-time experience with the best tools for global cyber defence.

Beat the hackers and apply to our undergraduate courses today!