Network Security Threats: What to Know
Over 64 percent of companies worldwide have experienced some form of cyberattack, with a new attack happening about every 39 seconds. With the COVID pandemic causing more people to work remotely, businesses are more vulnerable than ever to hackers.
Small businesses have risen as a target for hackers, with 43 percent of cyber attacks targeting small businesses. Small businesses usually don’t have the same cybersecurity measures as large corporations. A cyber attack can cost your business thousands of dollars.
How do hackers target small businesses, and how can you prevent attacks? Read on to learn about network security threats and how to fix them.
Types Of Attacks In Network Security
Network attacks occur when a malicious party attempts to gain unauthorized access to a network. The goal of these attacks is to steal your company’s data or cause other harm to your business. Here are some of the most common network attacks hackers use.
Computer Viruses And Worms
Computer viruses and worms are software programs designed to spread rapidly between computers. Viruses are often sent by email and can maliciously affect your computer settings and steal data.
Malware And Ransomware
Malware is any harmful piece of software installed on your device that damages your computer and steals data. Ransomware is malware that encrypts a computer and locks out a user until they pay a ransom.
Phishing Attacks
Phishing uses social engineering to trick users into giving up sensitive information. They often impersonate well-known websites to get users to click on links. Once users click on a link, it prompts them to enter sensitive information or download malware.
DOS and DDOS Attacks
A denial-of-service attack uses a computer to send requests for information to a website, flooding it with traffic. This overwhelms the site and causes the servers to shut down. Distributed denial-of-service attacks are like DOS attacks, but they come from multiple computers and are harder to counter.
SQL Injection Attacks
Today, many servers use SQL to store data. Hackers are using SQL to exploit security vulnerabilities and launch SQL injection attacks. These network attacks insert malicious code into software to steal or destroy data.
Network Security Solutions
Now that you know the most common network attacks, you probably wonder how to prevent them. Identifying your network security vulnerabilities and applying these solutions can improve your cybersecurity.
Use Network Protection Measures
Some steps you can take to protect your network security include using a firewall to prevent unauthorized access. Using a VPN creates a secure network connection that can protect your network. Finally, segmenting your network can help minimize an attack’s damage on your network.
Training employees on cybersecurity is another crucial step in protecting your business. When employees can identify threats, they are less likely to click on dangerous links.
Control Network Access
Strong access control helps prevent unauthorized users from accessing your network. One way to control access is to use strong, complex passwords. You can monitor behavior on your network to ensure employees are only accessing safe sites.
Hire Cybersecurity Help
If you feel lost about keeping your network safe, you can hire IT security services. IT professionals can help you identify vulnerabilities, put security measures in place, and monitor your network security health.
Fix Network Security Threats To Your Business
Network security threats are constant risks to businesses in our digital world. Understanding how hackers target your business can help you find network vulnerabilities. Applying cybersecurity best practices can protect you from a costly attack.
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