Introduction
With the influx of cyber-threats and data attacks online, cybersecurity has become a pressing need of the hour. Attackers are increasingly using more complex and sophisticated techniques, that are hard to detect. Businesses today, irrespective of the fact that they are IT or non-IT, are concerned over the privacy and security of their data. The same is true for internet users. Desperate times call for desperate measures, and indeed cybersecurity measures are leveling up to tackle the challenge of ensuring security on the internet. The task is monumental, but knowing the ins and outs of cybersecurity is a step in the right direction.
What is Cyber Security?
To put it simply, any process that protects sensitive data, computer systems, networks and software applications against cyber attack or breach, comes under the purview of cybersecurity. The word cybersecurity is an umbrella term that covers a wide range of topics, including data tampering, resource exploitation, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and many more. As cyber disrupters are getting more and more innovative in their ability to breach the security, it has become extremely difficult for cybersecurity experts and analysts to remain a step ahead.
Types of Cyber Attacks
Any beginner, who is trying to grasp cybersecurity, must familiarize himself/herself with the various kinds of cyber threats out there. Having an in-depth understanding of these threats is essential to crafting effective strategies for cybersecurity.
- Ransomware
It is a unique file encryption software that encrypts the files on the target system with the help of a dynamic algorithm.
The users, unable to access their data, are then forced to pay a considerable amount as ransom, to acquire the decryption code, and hence the name ‘Ransomware’.
- Botnets Attacks
Botnets are a network or collection of devices that share the same network to accomplish a particular task. But when it is used to disrupt the working of the network or to inject some kind of malware, it becomes a cybersecurity threat.
- Social Engineering Attacks
One of the more popular techniques to gather sensitive information from the user, social engineering involves enticing the user through attractive deals, advertisements, and offers. These scams ask for your financial information, which is then used for fraud.
- Phishing
This cyber-attack involves sending of spam emails, posing as legitimate. Such emails are crafted to instantly catch the attention of the user with some flashy offer or deal. The emails try to extract sensitive information from the user such as login credentials, credit card numbers, bank account information and so on.
The fundamental concept of Cybersecurity
The basic concept of cybersecurity revolves around the CIA Triad. It stands for Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability.
Confidentiality restricts access to sensitive information. Integrity makes sure that the data remains untempered and unaltered, by any malicious source. Availability involves the proper upgradation and maintenance of all components such as hardware, software, networks, devices, and other security equipment. Covering all aspects of cyber threats, this model was conceptualized to guide experts on how to navigate the deep waters of cybersecurity.
Going through the above it can be summarized that the world of cybersecurity is quite expansive, and would require a deep dive into each of these above-discussed aspects. The methodology of the CIA should be read in detail, to get any initial knowledge on the subject. The short introduction above is just a glimpse into the vast domain of cybersecurity.
