Cybersecurity threats are a significant and growing business risk that can lead to financial losses, damage to reputation, disruption of operations, and legal liabilities. To combat these threats, businesses need to take a proactive approach by implementing comprehensive security measures, conducting threat assessments, and training employees on cyber awareness. They also need to stay updated on the latest threats and regulations by regularly checking reputable sources like US-CERT, subscribing to security newsletters, and following trusted cybersecurity experts on social media.
Most bad actors are looking for money and PII, but some are also targeting trade secrets and other valuable information like source code. In addition, attacks may seek to disrupt business operations by stealing computer resources and inundating them with traffic (e.g., a DDoS attack).
Many types of cyberattacks target individuals directly by tricking them into entering sensitive information into fraudulent websites or clicking on suspicious links. This is called phishing. Other types of cyberattacks target businesses by attacking their supply chain or by exploiting software vulnerabilities. These attacks can result in malware infections, which then spread from legitimate applications and updates to other systems within the business or between businesses.
A common cyberattack is a malicious code injection that exploits software vulnerabilities to gain access to an organization’s systems or data. These breaches can be very damaging because they often have wide-ranging effects, such as compromising user credentials, disabling critical equipment or services, and exposing proprietary information. Other risks include ransomware, which locks up an organization’s data until a payment is made.