Common Network Security Threats you Should Know about

Even in today’s modern and developed world, the old warning told to children ‘Stranger danger’ is applicable. Most of our daily activities and procedures have now become automated. The use of internet is widespread due to which the same level of precautions should be taken, much like children do when they see anyone suspicious. This kind of precaution has become even more important after certain statistics have come to light. They claim that almost one-third of the computers in the world are infected with some type of malware.

But, in order to stay protected, you have to be aware of the common network security threats that exist. When you know, you can take appropriate measures to stay safe. Listed below are some of the network security threats you should know of:

Computer virus

Almost everyone has heard about them and they have their fears. In the case of internet users, one of the most common network security threats to cybersecurity are computer viruses. Half of the malware that affects computers are viruses. They are simply pieces of software that are designed to spread to other computers. They are either downloaded from certain websites or from email attachments and infect your device. Viruses are known to disable security settings, send spam, steal and corrupt data from your computer including your passwords and they may even delete everything on your hard drive.

Trojan horse

This is often referred to as one of the most dangerous network security threats. Metaphorically, it refers to tricking a user into giving an attacker permission to enter a securely protected area. The meaning is similar in the world of computing; Trojan refers to a bit of malicious software or code that tricks the user into running it on their system. It usually hides behind a legitimate program. They may come in the form of email attachments and then spread quickly. They can steal information by hijacking your webcam and logging your keystrokes.

Rogue security software

Scammers have leveraged the threat of computer viruses to commit internet fraud, which makes it another one of the common network security threats. Rogue security software is actually malicious software that misleads users into believing that they have a computer virus or that their security measures are not up to date. They offer to install the update to fix the issue. They will either ask you to pay for a tool or download their program. In this way, actual malware finds its way onto your computer.

Computer work

Next on the list of common network security threats are computer worms. These are malware programs that can replicate themselves quickly and spread from one device to another. A worm spreads to other computers by sending itself to the contacts of the infected computer and on it goes. Some worms are just designed to spread while others are developed to cause harm. Software vulnerabilities are exploited for transmission of these worms.

Adware and spyware

These two network security threats have become widespread nowadays. Adware is software that tracks data of your browsing habits and show you pop-ups and advertisements accordingly. Data is collected with your consent and companies even use it as a legitimate source of income that give users the opportunity to use their software for free. The problem with adware is that it can slow down your internet connection speed and your computer’s processor.

If adware is downloaded without consent, it is regarded as malicious. Spyware is not very different from adware, but is installed without your consent or knowledge. It comprises of key-loggers that can read personal information, such as credit card numbers, passwords and email addresses, increasing the risk of identity theft.

Phishing

Another one of the common network security threats, phishing is a method used for accessing sensitive data, such as usernames, passwords and credit card numbers. These attacks come in the form of phishing emails or instant messages, which appear quite legitimate. The recipient opens a malicious link, which means malware is installed onto their computer. It can also get personal information by sending an email that seems to come from a bank.

DOS and DDOS attack

One of the most dangerous network security threats, these attacks can lead to disastrous consequences. Sometimes, websites are known to crash when they are overloaded with traffic. But, mostly this happens in a DoS or Denial-of-service attack where a malicious traffic overload happens when a website is flooded with traffic by attackers, rendering the website unable to provide content to its visitors. A DDoS attack is similar to this attack and is more forceful as it is launched from multiple computers, which can be distributed all over the globe. It can be difficult to locate and defend yourself.

Rootkit

Having people gain access to your computer without your permission is one of the common network security threats and a rootkit does exactly that. It refers to a collection of software tools that enable administration-level and remote control access over a computer. Once they gain access, malicious actions can be performed as they come equipped with password stealers, key-loggers and antivirus disablers. Rootkits are typically hidden in legitimate software, but they can also get access to your computer through malicious files, links, phishing emails and downloading software from risky websites.

SQL Injection Attack

SQL is used by a number of servers that store data for websites. With the advancement in technology, network security threats have also advanced and this paves the way for SQL injection attack. These attacks are aimed at data-driven applications and they exploit the software vulnerabilities found in their application software. These attacks use malicious code for obtaining private data, destroying and even changing data. It is one of the most dangerous privacy issues, making it one of the most harmful network security threats found nowadays

You need to be aware of these common network security threats to take the necessary measures for preventing them and the consequences associated with them.