The cybersecurity threat landscape has changed drastically over the past decade. We are not dealing with less sophisticated versions of viruses, trojans, and worms anymore. Consequently, traditional antivirus software is no longer adequate as a cybersecurity solution. We need to do more to protect ourselves from these threats. Read on to learn more.
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Top Security Tools to Protect Yourself from Emerging Cyberthreats
Common Threats
Cyberthreats are becoming increasingly complex these days. Some of these threats are older but have become more sophisticated over the years, others are completely new. To effectively protect our data, we need to understand what we are dealing with. Without further ado, let’s look at the major cyber risks facing the public in 2020.
Social Engineering
Social engineering attacks such as phishing are and will continue to be one of the biggest cybersecurity threats facing the public. Phishing attacks use email and other forms of digital messaging to trick victims into surrendering sensitive information such as credit card information and login credentials or install malware into their computers. Cybercriminals are constantly coming up with sophisticated phishing scams that aid in financial fraud and data breaches.
AI-Enhanced Cyberthreats
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is finding its way into the business world owing to its ability to have a significant impact on fields such as supply chain management, security, manufacturing, and marketing services. Information security has been disrupted by intelligent technology, too. AI-enhanced attacks are set to be the next big cybersecurity threat. While AI can be used to identify and stop breaches, it can also be used by cybercriminals to launch complex, more adaptive attacks.
Cloud Vulnerability
Companies are increasingly leveraging the cloud to store sensitive data relating to their employees and business operations. Individuals too are backing up data from their laptops and smartphones to the cloud for storage. Cloud vulnerability is one of the biggest threats facing the public. Cloud storage is a tempting target for hackers. Top cyber threats that will continue to haunt cloud technology include DDoS attacks, insider threats, account hijacking, misconfiguration, and data breaches.
Cryptojacking
Cryptocurrencies are increasingly becoming part of the rapidly expanding cybersecurity threat landscape. Cryptojacking attacks involve hackers hijacking your computer resources to mine digital currencies such as Bitcoin. Cryptojacking software allows cybercriminals to hack into your computer and use it to secretly mine cryptocurrencies. The code works in the background and in most cases, without the user suspecting a thing. The code can affect your device’s performance and put you at risk of a cyberattack.
Malware
Malware attacks are on the rise. Mobile malware, in particular, is becoming popular. This malicious software is designed to target mobile phone operating systems. Ransomware attacks are also on the rise. In this type of cyberattack, hackers use technology to lock the files in your computer holding your data hostage until you pay a ransom. Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin facilitate anonymous ransom payments and have increased the risk of ransomware attacks.
Today, the public faces a wide range of cybersecurity threats. These cyberthreats will only get worse thanks to technologies such as AI, cloud computing, et cetera. However, this does not mean that you should stop using technology altogether. There are steps we can take to protect our sensitive data from hackers and other online threats. More on that in the next section.
Security Tools to Protect Yourself
Technology advances in recent years have allowed us to lead highly digitized lives. Most of our data is stored in digital form on our computing devices and online in the cloud. Efforts to compromise sensitive data by cybercriminals are becoming increasingly successful. We need to make sure that we have cybersecurity tools to protect ourselves from the threat of digital intrusion. These include:
VPN
A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is one of the most effective tools when it comes to defending against the wide range of online threats that we encounter every day. It helps you create a secure internet connection by hiding your IP address and encrypting your web traffic. You don’t have to worry about someone tracking your online activities when you connect via a VPN. A VPN can be downloaded easily and is easy to use.
Email Security
According to the 2020 Data Breach Investigations Report by Verizon, phishing is the leading cause of data breaches globally. When it comes to gaining legitimate access to confidential information, the use of phishing emails is an effective strategy that requires little investment. Luckily, there are email security tools that can help users prevent phishing attacks. These tools can identify and block phishing emails. Some may also block the transmission of sensitive information to cybercriminals.
Antimalware
Antimalware programs can detect and remove malicious software from your computer system. Antimalware differs from regular antivirus in that it can protect you against newer, more advanced threats such as ransomware, zero-day exploits, and polymorphic malware. Antivirus only protects you from classic, more established threats such as viruses, trojans, and worms. Antimalware is more efficient and a necessary tool when it comes to protecting yourself from sophisticated cyber threats we are dealing with today.
Encryption
Encryption software is one of the most effective tools when it comes to protecting sensitive data from cybercriminals. Encryption software uses cryptography to prevent unauthorized access to digital information. With encryption software, you need a password to access digital information stored on hard drives, computers, and smartphones. This makes it harder to break into your device and access sensitive information.
Password Manager
Weak passwords are responsible for a significant number of attacks. Hackers can use brute force techniques to crack your password and gain access to your online accounts. A password manager is an online tool designed to help users create, remember, and fill in passwords. This security tool helps you generate and store unique, strong passwords. A password manager offers security and convenience when accessing online services.
The cybersecurity threat landscape is constantly evolving. New threats are emerging by the day and we cannot rely on traditional antivirus alone for security anymore. There’s a need for a cybersecurity approach that can keep up with the dynamic nature of the threat environment. Using the aforementioned cybersecurity tools can help you keep your data safe from hackers and other online threats.
