What are Common type of cyber attacks and how to prevent them

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1. Malware

Malware is malicious software that can damage or disable your computer system or steal your personal information. It can be spread through email attachments, infected websites, or USB drives.

How to prevent it:

  • Install and keep up to date antivirus software.
  • Be careful about what email attachments you open and what websites you visit.
  • Do not insert USB drives from unknown sources into your computer.

2. Phishing

Phishing attacks are attempts to trick you into revealing confidential information, such as your passwords or credit card numbers. Attackers often send emails or text messages that appear to be from a legitimate source, such as a bank or government agency.

How to prevent it:

  • Be suspicious of any email or text message that asks for personal information.
  • Do not click on links in emails or text messages from unknown senders.
  • If you are unsure whether an email or text message is legitimate, contact the sender directly.

3. Spoofing

Spoofing attacks are attempts to impersonate a legitimate person or organization. Attackers may use fake caller IDs, email addresses, or websites to trick you into revealing confidential information or transferring money.

How to prevent it:

  • Be wary of any unsolicited call, email, or website.
  • Verify the identity of the caller, sender, or website before providing any personal information or transferring money.

4. Ransomware

Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts your files and demands a ransom payment in exchange for the decryption key. Ransomware attacks can be very disruptive and costly for businesses and individuals alike.

How to prevent it:

  • Back up your data regularly.
  • Install and keep up to date security software.
  • Be careful about what email attachments you open and what websites you visit.

5. Denial-of-service (DoS) attacks

DoS attacks are attempts to overwhelm a website or server with traffic, making it unavailable to legitimate users. DoS attacks can be very disruptive to businesses and organizations that rely on their websites and servers to operate.

How to prevent it:

  • Use a reputable web hosting provider.
  • Install and keep up to date security software.
  • Have a plan in place to respond to DoS attacks.

6. Man-in-the-middle (MitM) attacks

MitM attacks are attempts to intercept communication between two parties and impersonate one of them. Attackers can use MitM attacks to steal personal information or to redirect users to malicious websites.

How to prevent it:

  • Use a VPN when connecting to public Wi-Fi networks.
  • Be careful about what websites you visit and what links you click on.
  • Install and keep up to date security software.

7. SQL injection attacks

SQL injection attacks are attempts to exploit vulnerabilities in SQL databases. Attackers can use SQL injection attacks to steal data from databases or to insert malicious code into them.

How to prevent it:

  • Use secure coding practices.
  • Keep your database software up to date.
  • Use a firewall to protect your database from unauthorized access.

8. Cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks

XSS attacks are attempts to inject malicious code into a website. Attackers can use XSS attacks to steal personal information from website visitors or to redirect them to malicious websites.

How to prevent it:

  • Use secure coding practices.
  • Keep your website software up to date.
  • Use a web application firewall (WAF) to protect your website from XSS attacks.

9. Password attacks

Password attacks are attempts to guess or crack passwords. Attackers can use password attacks to gain unauthorized access to computer systems, online accounts, and other resources.

How to prevent it:

  • Use strong passwords that are at least 12 characters long and include a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
  • Use different passwords for different accounts.
  • Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible.

10. Insider threats

Insider threats are security threats that come from within an organization. Insider threats can be caused by malicious employees, contractors, or other third-party users.

How to prevent it:

  • Implement security awareness training for all employees and contractors.
  • Conduct regular security audits and reviews.
  • Use security software to monitor and track user activity.


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