Hackers in the 21st century are utilizing the widely connected networks around the world by hacking and trespassing secure systems through one of the common types of hacking techniques which include malware, spyware, phishing, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks and Cross Site Scripting (XSS). Whether you are new to the cybersecurity world or analyzing an incident occurred in your own organization, this article will help you to understand different types of attacks, ways to identify them and the tools to protect confidential data. Below are some of the most common types of Cyber Attacks:

• Denial-of-service (DoS) and Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS)

A DoS attack plants an external load on your system resources so that it is unable to give the desired performance and stops responding to the service requests. On the other hand, the DDoS threat also attacks the system resources and is launched from other host machines that are already infected by malicious software.

• Teardrop Attack

A teardrop attack sends malicious network packets over the internet protocol and attacks the system to reconstruct the packets during other processes. The target system gets confused, loading packages from multiple sources and crashes.

• Smurf Attack

A Smurf attack includes IP spoofing to overwhelm the network with unauthorized traffic, confusing the system, and leading to network congestion.

• SQL Injection Attack

One of the most common cyber threats, SQL injection has become widespread in database-driven websites. The process starts by inserting a SQL command into the data plane input, which runs a predefined command and can read sensitive data from the database. It can even modify/manipulate the data accordingly. SQL Injection attack is a growing concern in platforms like WordPress.

• Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

Cross-site scripting is another common method by which a hacker deploys a script on the web server directly. It could start from injecting malicious JavaScript in a comment on a blog. This incident affects the website’s reputation, the risk of confidential information, and decreases the trust score of the website.

In the age of digital transformation, cybersecurity is mandatory for every business irrespective of the size. With increasing numbers of cyberattacks on businesses of all sizes, sectors, and domains, it’s high time to understand and consider a strategy that includes long-term protection from hackers.

Below we have compiled a list of essential tools to ensure to notch up your cybersecurity.

1. Firewall

As cybercriminals find new ways of attacking secure systems, the defense also needs to be stronger and up to the mark. A firewall is one of the fundamental security tools and remains one of the most critical layers to block any unauthorized access to your system. A firewall monitors network traffic, connection attempts, and prompts the user to decide whether they should allow any file or software to pass over the network or not. Advanced hackers have learned to create programs to trick firewall and even pass through robust security systems. The firewall in the year 2019 is highly effective to monitor massive malicious attacks on the network.

2. Antivirus Software

If you are a beginner into the cybersecurity, you might confuse antivirus software with the firewall. Moreover, both have different use cases. An anti-virus software ensures to keep you safe from viruses, malware infections and will provide alerts whenever a network discovers an external virus or threat. Antivirus software can scan emails, keep you safe from malicious websites, phishing attacks, viruses passed over USB drives, and take protective measures to alert you regarding potential threats and also remove them.

3. Penetration Testing

Penetration Testing is an essential method by which an organization tests its own security systems. Organizations make sure to use the same techniques used by criminals, attempt to trespass their network and try multiple techniques like cracking the password and injecting code and test the real-world ability of the network. This is a great way to plan for the future and assess the leaks in your overall system. Fortune 500 Companies like Facebook and Google have Bug Bounty programs for penetration testing and reward the hacker on successfully breaching the network.

4. Employee Training

Employee training is one of the most helpful and ROI driven methods of being cybersecurity-ready. While employees are not a tool, but the more aware and knowledgeable the employees are, there is a higher chance of defense against cybercriminals. Training your employees about the real-time vulnerabilities in the cybersecurity world, cybersecurity strategies, best practices of staying secure, staying away from suspicious links, and generating strong passwords are included in the overall training.

As cybercriminals get advanced, businesses should invest in the required tools and services to keep the network, organization’s data, and information security. The expenses at initial stages might not justify the output but remember, this is a long term investment, which will provide you a competitive edge, confidence, reliability, and gain more trust from customers.

At Xpetze, Our process involves the prevention of data breaches, cyberattacks, and identity theft. We help you with protecting your data, and systems from major cybersecurity threats.