Types of Online Threats You May Not Know!

Today it is common to hear or read about types of online threats. And as more and more people have access to being online, there are more cyber criminals who seek to take advantage of the situation due to their lack of knowledge.

Some of the online threats are aimed at companies, but at the same time, there are types of online threats designed to deceive to obtain relevant information with which they can harm, mainly, in an economic way to Internet users.

Types of Online Threats

Phishing: this is probably the best-known threat and the easiest way to execute it, is to create emails that impersonate a person or company in order to request information of different kinds. It can be from one of the famous "Nigerian scams" to emails that appear to be from a banking institution, this type of threat is based on social engineering, which is defined as the action of making someone believe that you represent the person or company that is being supplanted.

Malware by Mail: another common way in which cybercriminals attach a malicious file to an email in order for the user to open it and thus install some type of Trojan, worm, or virus on the computer of the person who opened it.

Browser Attacks: consist of including some type of malicious file in a vulnerable site, so when someone enters, the program is installed automatically on the computer.

Brute force attacks: this threat is directed at accounts that are protected with a password, what they do is that when knowing the user name, through software combinations of possible passwords are made to obtain access to services such as email accounts electronic, banks, and Internet services, among others.

Ransomware: it is an attack that aims to hijack information from a computer, specifically that of a person or an organization. For this, the attackers use any of the aforementioned techniques so that the victim opens or installs a malicious file or application and with it the attacker remotely obtains control of the machine, encrypting all the information stored in it and asking for payment of an amount of money in cryptocurrencies to return the information; a situation that in many of the reported cases has not happened despite the payment of the ransom.

Spyware: This type of threat is installed on the device and is constantly monitoring the information that the user enters and sends it to the cybercriminal. This threat allows all information to be collected, including confidential data such as passwords for accessing email accounts, services, and banks, among others.

Trojans: these are malicious programs that allow the cybercriminal to take control of the device and thus search for information on the computer equipment to modify or eliminate it.

Each of these types of online threats has its own level of risk, the purpose of all of them is to steal personal or sensitive information, verify and take care of the security of your devices connected to the Internet and thus reduce your risk of being a victim before them.

Strategies to Keep Safe From All Types of Online Threats

Some experts insist that our vulnerability on the web is inevitable; so no matter how much you invest in protective equipment, the simple fact of using the internet implies a risk. 

That is why it is important to evaluate what the risks are, what information we need to protect, and what types of online threats we may be exposed to.

Keeping up with the news is important to know what keys to update and assess weaknesses. It is also necessary to update the software of our operating systems since they usually include new codes to combat attacks. The use of advanced antivirus security like total security software will give extra protection against suspicious online threats.

Applying cybersecurity strategies is increasingly necessary especially for organizations and companies. In addition to distrusting strange emails and improving passwords, it is essential to understand the risks and know how to invest time and money in good protection, whether you are the owner of a company or simply a common user.

In this article, we only explore some of the main online threats and solutions, if you think you could take more risks, remember to do more research on trusted platforms and apply safe strategies.