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Learn About 8 Common Cyber Security Threats

Learn About 8 Common Cyber Security Threats

Written By Gopika S Nair
Last Updated March 5, 2024
Posted In Security
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Let’s Learn About 8 Common Cyber Security Threats. Cyber Security is a relevant topic in the technological era and one of the concerns of end users. It faces different threats that can severely affect users’ lives.

Cybersecurity is an important part of individual life, and a lack of security in the Cyber field may affect people’s personal and professional lives. Technology is growing every day; everything is digitalized. Users spend more time in their professional fields and save confidential data on devices.

The IT sector faces many cyber threats and malicious attacks. A cyber security threat is any potential danger or risk that could compromise the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of data or IT systems.

Malicious attackers try to exploit vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access, steal sensitive information, disrupt operations, or harm individuals, organizations, or even entire nations. This blog post explains 8 Common Cyber Security Threats.

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Learn About 8 Common Cyber Security Threats - Fig.1
Learn About 8 Common Cyber Security Threats – Fig.1

Learn About 8 Common Cyber Security Threats

There are different types of Cyber Security Threats that malicious actors use to steal confidential data, and users want to compromise security. The various forms of threads disrupt operations and target different aspects of digital systems and data.

8 Common Cyber Security Threats
Phishing
Malware
Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)
SQL Injection
Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
Social Engineering
Zero-Day (0day) Exploits
Credential Attacks
Learn About 8 Common Cyber Security Threats – Table.1

1. Phishing

Phishing is a critical cyber security threat commonly used by malicious actors. This attack involves sending deceptive emails or messages that appear to be from an authorized source. This fraudulent practice steals sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, or personal information.

Phishing can also lead victims to malicious websites or malware downloads. Some features of Phishing include Too Good To Be True, a Sense of Urgency, Hyperlink Attachments, and an Unusual Sender.

Learn About 8 Common Cyber Security Threats - Fig.2
Learn About 8 Common Cyber Security Threats – Fig.2

2. Malware

Malware (Malicious Software) is intentionally designed to cause disruptions. It can affect a computer, server, client, or computer network, leak private information, or gain unauthorized access to information or systems.

  • Ransomware – It encrypts files and demands a ransom for decryption
  • Trojans – Disguised as legitimate software, they give attackers unauthorized access
  • Worms – It is a self-replicating programs that attach to files and spread
Learn About 8 Common Cyber Security Threats - Fig.3 - Creds to Polaris
Learn About 8 Common Cyber Security Threats – Fig.3 – Creds to Polaris

3. Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)

Denial-Of-Service attack floods a server with traffic, making a website or resource unavailable. In Distibuted-Denial-of-Service, use Multiple computers to attack targeted devices. There are different types of Dos Attacks, and they include Buffer Overflow, Ping of Death, SYN Flood, Teardrop, etc.

Learn About 8 Common Cyber Security Threats - Fig.4 - Creds to ResearchGate
Learn About 8 Common Cyber Security Threats – Fig.4 – Creds to ResearchGate

4. SQL Injection

SQL Injection is a type of Cyber Security thread. It is a code injection technique used to attack data-driven applications. Attackers manipulate a web application’s input field to inject malicious SQL queries, potentially gaining unauthorized access to databases and sensitive data.

Learn About 8 Common Cyber Security Threats - Fig.5 - Creds to Testmatick
Learn About 8 Common Cyber Security Threats – Fig.5 – Creds to Testmatick

5. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

In Cross-site Scripting(XSS), attackers inject malicious executable scripts into the code of a trusted application or website, leading to the theft of user data. Cross-site scripting includes Capturing a user’s keystrokes, Redirecting a user to a malicious website, and Running web browser–based exploits.

Learn About 8 Common Cyber Security Threats - Fig.6 - Creds to Greeksforgeeks
Learn About 8 Common Cyber Security Threats – Fig.6 – Creds to Greeksforgeeks

6. Social Engineering

Social engineering is the psychological manipulation of individuals into divulging confidential information or performing actions that compromise security.

Learn About 8 Common Cyber Security Threats - Fig.7 - Creds to Sophos
Learn About 8 Common Cyber Security Threats – Fig.7 – Creds to Sophos

7. Zero-Day (0day) Exploits

Zero-day (0-day) Exploits target software or hardware vulnerabilities unknown to the vendor or public. Attackers focus on these vulnerabilities and take advantage of them before patches are developed. Security researchers work quickly to make a patch when a zero-day is discovered. Hence, zero days are generally short-lived.

Learn About 8 Common Cyber Security Threats - Fig.8 - Creds to Imperva
Learn About 8 Common Cyber Security Threats – Fig.8 – Creds to Imperva

8. Credential Attacks

It is a brute force attack, where repeatedly guessed passwords and credential stuffing attacks, where stolen credentials from one site are used to attempt access on other sites.

Learn About 8 Common Cyber Security Threats - Fig.9
Learn About 8 Common Cyber Security Threats – Fig.9

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Author

Gopika S Nair is a computer enthusiast. She loves writing on Windows 11 and related technologies. She is here to share quick tips and tricks with Windows 11 or Windows 10 users. She is Post Graduate Diploma Holder in Computer Science.

Written by

Gopika S Nair is a computer enthusiast. She loves writing on Windows 11 and related technologies. She is here to share quick tips and tricks with Windows 11 or Windows 10 users. She is Post Graduate Diploma Holder in Computers Science.

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