Top 5 Cyber Attacks | Types Of Cyber Security Threats | CyberSecurity For Beginners | Intellipaat

Summary

This session delves into the growing importance of cyber security in today's digital world. It covers the fundamentals, including the definition of cyber security, its core principles (CIA Triad: Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability), and the increasing need for protection as technology evolves. The session also outlines common cyber threats such as DDoS attacks, malware, phishing, and zero-day attacks. Finally, practical safety measures are shared, such as using VPNs, backing up data, setting strong passwords, enabling multi-factor authentication, and keeping software updated to stay safe online.

Takeaways

• 😀 Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting digital systems and data from malicious attacks, ensuring confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
• 😀 The rise in cybercrime is directly linked to the growing use of digital technologies, making cybersecurity more important than ever.
• 😀 Cybersecurity is essential for both individuals and businesses to safeguard their personal and financial data from cyber threats.
• 😀 The CIA Triad is the core framework of cybersecurity: Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability, which guides all security measures and responses.
• 😀 Common cyber threats include DDoS attacks, malware, MITM (Man-in-the-Middle) attacks, phishing, and zero-day attacks.
• 😀 DDoS attacks overload systems with traffic, rendering them unresponsive and causing operational disruptions.
• 😀 Malware, including viruses, worms, ransomware, and spyware, is malicious software designed to damage or gain unauthorized access to systems.
• 😀 MITM attacks intercept communications between two parties to steal or alter sensitive data during transmission.
• 😀 Phishing is a social engineering technique where attackers impersonate legitimate organizations to steal sensitive user information like login credentials.
• 😀 Zero-day attacks exploit software vulnerabilities that have not yet been discovered or patched by the developers, leaving systems exposed.
• 😀 Key safety measures to prevent cyber threats include using a VPN, regularly backing up data, using strong and unique passwords, and enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA).

Q & A

What is the definition of cybersecurity?

Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems, networks, and data from malicious attacks and unauthorized access.

Why is cybersecurity important for individuals and businesses?

Cybersecurity is important because it helps protect sensitive data, financial assets, and personal information from theft, loss, and cybercriminal activities. As both individuals and businesses increasingly rely on digital systems, cybersecurity becomes crucial to prevent data breaches and disruptions.

What are the three core features of cybersecurity?

The core features of cybersecurity, known as the CIA Triad, are: 1) Confidentiality – ensuring sensitive data is accessible only to authorized users, 2) Integrity – maintaining the accuracy and trustworthiness of data, and 3) Availability – ensuring authorized users can access information when needed.

What is a cyber threat?

A cyber threat is any harmful act aimed at compromising, stealing, or damaging data, or disrupting digital operations. It can involve various techniques to exploit vulnerabilities in systems or networks.

What is crypto jacking and how does it affect businesses?

Crypto jacking involves cybercriminals hijacking computers to mine cryptocurrencies without the owner’s consent. For businesses, this can cause significant performance issues and downtime as IT departments work to identify and resolve the issue.

What is a DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) attack?

A DDoS attack occurs when hackers flood a computer system’s network with excessive traffic, overwhelming the system and preventing it from fulfilling legitimate requests. This can render the system unusable and cause operational disruptions.

What is malware and how does it affect systems?

Malware is malicious software designed to disrupt or damage systems, steal data, or grant unauthorized access. Types of malware include viruses, worms, trojans, ransomware, and spyware.

What is a man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack?

A MITM attack occurs when an attacker intercepts communications between two parties, often without their knowledge, to steal or manipulate sensitive data being transferred, such as login credentials or personal information.

How does phishing work and how can you protect yourself from it?

Phishing is a social engineering attack where criminals impersonate legitimate entities (e.g., banks or e-commerce sites) to trick users into providing sensitive information like passwords or credit card details. Protect yourself by avoiding suspicious emails, checking URLs for authenticity, and using multi-factor authentication.

What are zero-day attacks and why are they dangerous?

Zero-day attacks exploit vulnerabilities in software that are unknown to the developers. Since no fix or patch has been released for these vulnerabilities, they can be especially dangerous and difficult to prevent.

What are some effective safety measures to protect against cyber attacks?

Effective safety measures include avoiding unprotected public Wi-Fi, regularly backing up data, using strong and unique passwords, keeping software updated, enabling two-factor authentication, and using antivirus protection and firewalls.