How To Prevent Cyber Attacks (Top Secrets)

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By Abraham

Cyber attacks are developing more quickly than ever. Businesses and people all around the world are failing to respond to hostile cyber attacks quickly enough, and as a result, they risk suffering permanent harm to their reputation, systems, finances, and data. By being aware of the many types of protocols, exploits, tools, and resources used by hostile actors, cyber attacks can be avoided.

In this post, we’ll be taking a look at how to prevent cyber attacks. Make sure you read this post to the end as it’ll be very informative and insightful.

WHAT ARE CYBER ATTACKS? 

How to prevent cyber attacks
How to prevent cyber attacks

Any offensive action that targets computer networks, infrastructures, personal computers, smartphones, or other electronic devices is referred to as a cyberattack.

An attacker is a person or process that makes unauthorized, potentially malicious, attempts to gain access to data, functions, or other restricted parts of the system. Cyberattacks can be a part of either cyberwarfare or cyberterrorism, depending on the situation.

An anonymous source may launch a cyberattack, which can be used by sovereign governments, individuals, groups, societies, or organizations. Sometimes referred to as a cyber weapon, a product facilitates a cyberattack.

The previous few years have seen an alarming rise in cyberattacks. By breaking into a vulnerable system, a cyberattack can steal from, change, or even destroy a specific target. Cyberattacks can take many different forms, from the placement of malware on a user’s computer to attempts to compromise the infrastructure of whole countries.

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MOST COMMON CYBER ATTACKS

  1. Viruses
  2. Keyloggers
  3. Worms
  4. Trojans
  5. Ransomware / Crypto-Malware
  6. Logic Bombs
  7. Bots/Botnets
  8. Adware & Spyware
  9. Rootkits
  10. Denial of Service (DoS)
  11. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS)
  12. Buffer Overflow Attacks
  13. Ping Attacks
  14. SYN Flood
  15. Email Phishing
  16. Vishing
  17. Smishing
  18. Watering Hole Attacks
  19. Pretexting
  20. Whaling
  21. Tailgating
  22. DNS Amplification
  23. Back Door
  24. Spoofing
  25. Smurf Attack
  26. TCP/IP Hijacking
  27. Explore All Wireless Attacks
  28. Data Emanation
  29. Jamming
  30. Bluetooth Vulnerabilities
  31. Near-Field Communication
  32. War Driving
  33. Evil Twin
  34. Domain Kiting
  35. Typosquatting
  36. Client Side Attacks
  37. Watering Hole Attacks
  38. Zero Day Attacks
  39. Deauthentication and Disassociation
  40. WarChalking
  41. Packet Sniffing and Eavesdropping
  42. Replay Attacks (Wireless)
  43. WPS Attacks
  44. WEP/WPA Attacks
  45. IV Attack
  46. TKIP Attack
  47. WPA2 Attacks
  48. Replay Attacks
  49. DNS Poisoning
  50. ARP Poisoning

TYPES OF CYBER ATTACKS 

1. Network Attacks

An attempt to take advantage of a weakness or vulnerability in a network or its systems, which may include servers, firewalls, computers, routers, switches, printers, and more, is known as a network attack. A network attack may be intended to steal, alter, or remove access to important data.

Or it might be done to take down a network. Network attacks have increased in frequency over the past few years, in part because small and mid-sized firms are not investing quickly enough in securing their systems. Because corporate systems are frequently simpler to infiltrate, hackers target businesses as a result.

2. Wireless Attacks

In a wireless attack, all devices connected to the WiFi of the company are located and their connections are looked at. WiFi is a wireless network technology that creates connections over the air using radio waves.

Malicious hackers frequently decide to enter a firm by exploiting its WiFi network and associated infrastructure devices because of the nature of WiFi and its methods for granting network access.

Homes are also at risk, particularly with the proliferation of IoT-connected equipment and devices.

3. Malware Attacks

A malware attack happens when a hacker sends a risky link or email attachment that, when clicked, installs software that can block access to crucial network components, put other types of destructive software on the computer, access the hard drive to transmit and collect data and disrupt components to render the system unusable.

4. Phishing Attack

In a phishing attack, messages are sent that pretend to be from a reliable source and are typically sent over email.

This attack’s objectives could include malware installation and data theft of sensitive information like login credentials and credit card numbers.

5. Man-In-The-Middle (MitM) Attack

An intrusion by a hacker into a two-party transaction with the purpose of data filtering and theft is known as a man-in-the-middle (MitM) attack. Unsecured public Wi-Fi and software that has been placed on the victim’s device are typical entry points for this kind of attack.

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6. Social Engineering Attacks

Social engineering is the practice of tricking a user into disclosing sensitive data, such as user login passwords, wire transfer instructions, or private customer information.

One of the most common ways to get malicious malware into a network is through this kind of cyberattack. Recent statistics show that 98% of cyberattacks use social engineering.

HOW TO PREVENT CYBER ATTACKS 

When thinking of how to prevent cyber attacks, the following are some important steps to take.

1. Install A Firewall

HOW TO PREVENT CYBER ATTACKS 
How to prevent cyber attacks

There are a huge variety of sophisticated data breaches, and new ones appear daily and occasionally even make a reappearance. This is one step on how to prevent cyber attacks.

One of the best ways to protect yourself from any cyber assault is to place your network behind a firewall. Any brute force attacks conducted on your network and/or systems will be stopped by a firewall system before they can cause any harm.

2. Train Your Staff

Your employees are one of the most typical ways that cyber criminals obtain your data. They will send phony emails asking for personal information or access to specific files while posing as a member of your company.

Untrained eyes frequently mistake links for trustworthy sources, and it’s simple to fall for the trick. Employee awareness is essential because of this. This is another step in how to prevent cyber attacks.

Training your staff on cyber attack prevention and educating them on current cyber attacks is one of the most effective strategies to protect against cyber attacks and all forms of data breaches.

Before sending sensitive information, they must verify links before clicking on them, verify email addresses from received emails, and use common sense. Any request that looks strange usually is. Before acting on the “request,” it is preferable to call the individual in question and confirm.

3. Employee Personal Accounts

Every employee needs their login for every application and program. Multiple individuals connecting with the same credentials can endanger your company.

You can decrease the number of attack fronts by giving each staff member a unique login. Users will only use their own set of logins and will only log in once each day. This is another step in how to prevent cyber attacks. You’ll gain better usability in addition to increased security.

Read: 10 Best Ways To Efficiently Secure Business From Cyber Attacks

4. Use Strong Passwords

It is imperative to stress this. If your bank’s password is “jackson0000” and you have a large amount of money in your account, you should be prepared for an unexpected transaction.

You shouldn’t solely rely on websites you visit for rate-limiting strategies. Your password needs to be virtually uncrackable to be effective.

A password that is 12 characters or longer that uses a variety of alphabets in both upper and lower case, numerals, and symbols, as well as spaces, is considered to be strong. Setting a truly impenetrable password shouldn’t be challenging, especially with the aid of random password generators.

It can also be risky to set up the same password for everything. If a hacker discovers your password, they have access to every file on your computer and any program you use.

Your security will be greatly improved by creating unique passwords for each application you use, and by regularly changing them, you can keep a high degree of defense against both internal and external threats. This is another step in how to prevent cyber attacks.

Also read: Enterprise password management

5. Keep Your Software And Systems Fully Up To Date

Cyber attacks frequently occur as a result of vulnerabilities in your systems or software from out-of-date software or systems. Therefore, hackers use these flaws to break into your network. It’s frequently too late to take precautions once they are inside.

A patch management solution, which will oversee all software and system updates and keep your system resilient and current, is a wise investment to combat this. This is another step in how to prevent cyber attacks.

6. Wifi Security

In 2023, who won’t own a wifi-enabled device? And that’s precisely the issue; every device that connects to a network has the potential to get infected; if this infected device then connects to your company’s network, your entire system is seriously at risk.

The safest thing you can do for your systems is to secure and hide your wifi networks. Thousands of devices can connect to your network and compromise you as wireless technology continues to advance.

7. Backup Your Data

If you back up your company’s data and website, you can recover any information you lose in the event of a cyber incident or computer problems.

This is another step in how to prevent cyber attacks. Regularly backing up your most crucial data and information is imperative. Fortunately, backing up is typically inexpensive and simple to complete.

Use a variety of backup techniques to help assure the security of your crucial files. Typical components of a strong backup plan include end-of-week server backups, quarterly server backups, yearly server backups, and daily incremental backups to a portable device and/or cloud storage.

Make sure you can restore your data from your backup frequently by checking and testing.

Make it a routine to back up your files to a portable USB stick or external storage. Store portable devices separately offsite so that your company has a backup plan in case your office building is broken into or burglarized. Avoid leaving the linked devices on the computer as a cyber-attack could infect them.

An alternative is to use a cloud storage service to back up your data. When transporting and storing your data, the ideal solution will use encryption, and it will also offer multi-factor authentication for access.

8. Ensure Endpoint Protection

HOW TO PREVENT CYBER ATTACKS 
How to prevent cyber attacks

Remotely bridged networks are safeguarded by endpoint protection. Security threats can gain access to corporate networks through mobile devices, tablets, and laptops. Endpoint protection software designed for these pathways is required.

9. Control Access To Your Systems

Having control over who can access your network is crucial because, believe it or not, one of the attacks you can receive on your systems can be physical.

Someone can easily access your entire network or infect it by entering your workplace or business and plugging a USB key with infected data into one of your PCs.

Controlling who has access to your computers is crucial. Installing a perimeter security system is a great approach to preventing break-ins and cybercrime alike!

10. Access Management

As a business owner, you run the risk of your staff installing software on company-owned devices that could compromise your systems.

Your security will benefit from having managed admin permissions and preventing your personnel from installing or even accessing specific files on your network. Protect your enterprise; it is yours!

11. Avoid Identity Theft

Another step in how to prevent cyber attacks is to avoid identity theft. When someone impersonates you on any platform to obtain advantages in your name while having the bills paid for you, it is identity theft.

Just as an illustration, identity theft might result in harm to you that is more severe than monetary losses. The incorrect management of sensitive personal data is the most frequent cause of identity theft.

Avoid certain situations while working with personally identifiable information. Make sure to:

  • Never enter personal information on a website that promises rewards in exchange.
  • Never provide your SSN (in the US) to someone you do not know or trust.
  • Avoid sharing private information on social networking platforms.
  • Keep some of your personal information private on social media.

12. Turn On Your Spam Filters

Reduce the number of spam and phishing emails that your company receives by using spam filters. Spam and phishing emails can be used to steal your personal information or infect your machine with malware or viruses.

The best course of action is to delete spam and phishing emails if you get them. Applying a spam filter will lessen the likelihood that you or your staff will unintentionally open spam or dishonest email.

13. Use Multi-Factor Authentication

MFA systems demand two or more factors to confirm a user’s identity and enable them access to an account.

MFA reduces the likelihood of unauthorized access by providing trustworthy assurance that an authorized user is who they claim to be. These factors make MFA far superior to passwords in terms of system security.

OTHER THINGS TO CONSIDER ON HOW TO PREVENT CYBER ATTACKS 

1. Have A Proper Insurance Cover

In addition to how to prevent cyber attacks and safeguard your company’s sensitive data, it’s crucial to have a suitable insurance policy that covers any losses in the event of a breach.

You will be shielded from financial damages brought on by cyber hazards by having an adequate insurance policy, which may often also cover liability.

When affected clients hold you accountable for compromising information and demand reimbursement for the losses caused by such a breach, such protection will assist you to cover the costs of dealing with the breach.

2. Server Security

HOW TO PREVENT CYBER ATTACKS 
How to prevent cyber attacks

A server-side firewall should be reserved for the possibility of integrating SSL and a CDN. There are hosting plans and certificate availability that don’t require you to share the server environment with other websites. A set of SSH keys can also be used to authenticate an SSH server. An alternative to conventional logins is this.

A password has fewer bits than the keys. The majority of current computers cannot be used to crack these keys. The 617-digit password is equivalent to the RSA 2048-bit encryption. A private key and a public key make up this key pair.

Before inputting any information on the website, a user should verify HTTPS and an SSL certificate. You can determine whether the SSL is issued by a trustworthy source even when you click on a browser’s padlock. Thawte SSL certificates, Comodo SSL certificates, RapidSSL certificates, etc. are a few trustworthy SSL certs.

3. AI-Powered Attacks

Given that we do not yet fully understand the capabilities of such operations, the use of artificial intelligence to launch sophisticated cyberattacks is a frightening prospect.

The most famous AI-powered attack we’ve seen so far utilized slave machines and AI-powered botnets to launch a significant DDoS attack. However, future attack routes are expected to be substantially more advanced.

AI-enabled software can learn which strategies are most effective and modify its assault patterns accordingly.

They can both scan systems for potential vulnerabilities and leverage intelligence feeds to swiftly discover software problems. The use of AI-generated text, audio, and video to impersonate business executives will allow for the launch of extremely convincing phishing attacks.

AI-powered attacks can operate continuously, unlike human attacks. They are versatile, quick, cost-effective, and efficient.

How to Prevent AI-Powered Attacks

Unfortunately, AI attacks cannot be easily stopped. Naturally, using secure passwords, strong access limits, network monitoring, and all of the other solutions discussed above will undoubtedly be helpful.

However, the unpredictable nature of AI is an issue. So, we don’t know what kinds of super-viruses may appear in the upcoming years, and we don’t know how AI will be applied to fight them.

The best course of action would be to keep an eye out for security products that use AI.

FAQS ON HOW TO PREVENT CYBER ATTACKS 

1. How Common Are Cyber Attacks?

In today’s digital environment, cyberattacks are more prevalent than ever. They can seriously harm people, companies, and countries. Cyber attacks are carried out for a variety of objectives, including monetary gain, espionage, activism, and destruction. Hackers may also conduct assaults only as a test of their mettle or for the challenge. 

2. How Does a Cyber Attack Work?

An attacker who conducts a cyber attack gains unauthorized access to a computer system, network, or another device to steal, alter, or destroy data.

The attacker could employ several strategies, including malware, social engineering, or taking advantage of holes in software or systems.

3. What Motivates People to Launch Cyber Attacks?

People launch cyber attacks for a variety of motives, such as monetary gain, espionage, activism, and sabotage. Cyberattacks may have a political motivation to harm their rivals.

4. What is a Botnet?

A botnet, sometimes known as “bots,” is a network of compromised devices that are run either by a single attacker or by a group of attackers. These bots are capable of attacking the operating systems of mobile phones and other internet-connected devices.

CONCLUSION

In today’s world where cyber-attacks are imminent, being aware of them and taking steps to prevent them becomes very important.

To avoid being victims of cyber crimes, we urge you to take precautions from this post on how to prevent cyber attacks. We hope you found this post very helpful. Kindly let us know what you think.

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REFERENCES

Our Writers most times refer to other reputable publishers source to bring in more facts especially when it has to do with stats

  • https://blog.externetworks.com
  • https://purplesec.us
  • https://leaf-it.com

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