15 Most Common Cyber Threats Explained
Cyber threats come in many forms. Some can be prevented by following internet safety best practices and being aware of warning signs, while others might require professional cybersecurity services. Here are the 15 most common cyber threats that individuals and organizations come across.
1. Malware
Malware, a shortened version of “malicious software,” is used in many different cyberattacks. Malware is usually software or a program built with the ill intent to harm digital systems or individuals. The ill intent of malware may be to gain access to valuable data (like login credentials or credit card information) or to disrupt system operations. The most common types of malwares include ransomware, spyware, trojans, and worms.
2. Ransomware
As the name suggests, ransomware involves either withholding access or threatening to leak or share personal information if a certain condition, like payment, isn’t met. In other words, ransomware blocks access to information or entire systems until a ransom is paid. These threats are usually targeted at organizations.
3. Spyware
Spyware is a form of malware that operates on devices, collecting sensitive data such as credit card numbers, passwords, and usernames. The information collected is shared with the attacker without the victim’s knowledge.
4. Trojan
Trojan malware masquerades as a legitimate program but will give malicious actors access to devices, systems, or networks once downloaded. In some cases, a trojan creates an opportunity for hackers to break into a system, while in others, it might install something like a spyware or ransomware program.
5. Worm
Worm malware replicates itself, spreading across devices and networks without hackers or other entities needing to manually intervene to spread the malware.
6. Keylogger
A keylogger, or keystroke logger, records keystrokes on a device, allowing malicious actors to obtain sensitive data. It can be malware installed on a device or physical hardware that records user activities on a specific device.
7. Phishing
Considered a form of social engineering in cyber threats, phishing attacks are incredibly pervasive. They take on the form of fraudulent emails, text messages, phone calls, websites, and many other forms of communication to persuade individuals to provide sensitive information, download malware, or become vulnerable to other forms of cyberattacks. Like malware, phishing threats come in several forms, including spear phishing, whale phishing, spoofing, and business email compromise.
8. Spear Phishing
Spear phishing is a very specific and targeted attack tailored to its victims. The attack may leverage personal information available through social media, allowing the attacker to create a convincing story or situation to persuade an individual to send money or share personal information. These attacks aren’t as common as others on this list, but they’re important to be aware of because they’re some of the most effective types of cyberattacks, accounting for 66% of data breaches involving phishing schemes.
9. Whale Phishing
Whale phishing is an attack geared specifically toward high-level executives and wealthy individuals. The name can be traced to the term “whale,” used in high-stakes gambling and luxury retail environments. Whales are people who spend exorbitantly when placing wagers or shopping.
10. Spoofing
Phishing schemes may impersonate well-known organizations, persuading individuals to provide sensitive information to malicious actors or to install malware. When this happens, it’s called “spoofing,” as the cyberattack involves creating a seemingly legitimate website or email, including mimicking domain names and email addresses, to gain access to information or to install malware.
11. Business Email Compromise (BEC) Phishing
Business email compromise phishing schemes affect organizations and businesses of all sizes. These attacks involve malicious actors sending emails that appear to be from an organization’s executive personnel or trusted vendors and usually request money or information from the receiver. The email recipient, thinking it’s someone they want to maintain a positive relationship with, may comply, compromising their information or the business network.
12. Password Attacks
Password attacks aim to obtain a person’s password to access sensitive information, and they come in many forms. Password attacks may involve password spraying, using common passwords or terms. In contrast, others may try credential stuffing, trying a person’s previously obtained username and password on different sites in the hope that they’ve been reused.
13. Man-in-the-Middle Attacks
Man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks involve a hacker obtaining information through shared networks, like public Wi-Fi. When users share information using the shared network, including from their personal devices, the hackers can access and use it to their advantage.
14. Denial of Service Attack
A denial of service (DoS) attack prevents people from using or accessing a website or other system by overloading it with fake users.
15. Distributed Denial of Service Attack
Like a DOS attack, a distributed denial of service (DDoS) prevents access to a system but does so at a larger level, preventing access to an entire network or even causing the network to crash. DDoS attacks typically involve compromising a device to spread malware across a system, making the system unusable.
How to Minimize the Risks of Cyber Threats
Following cybersecurity best practices can help mitigate risks of cyber threats for both organizations and individuals. Cybersecurity is a serious matter for businesses and organizations, particularly those that handle personal information or large sums of money, such as those in the gambling industry.
Online gambling sites handle sensitive information, including financial and personal identification details. This means that online casinos (both new casinos and established ones), sportsbooks, lotteries, and other sites must ensure they’re taking the necessary steps to design a platform that secures this information and that they’re educating their employees on identifying potential threats to protect the overall business.
Cybersecurity best practices for individuals include learning about the different types of threats and their warning signs, using passwords that are both strong and unique, avoiding public Wi-Fi when sharing personal information, and installing anti-virus and anti-malware programs.
