Keep Your Computer Safe: Maintaining Computer Network Security
Cyber attacks are becoming highly sophisticated and very diverse.
The number of cyber-attacks has been on the rise in recent years, not just in terms of frequency. The nature of the attacks themselves is changing. The most obvious change is that they are becoming more advanced; where once effective attacks were relatively simple, today's hackers can deploy a wide range of techniques to infiltrate your network or network-connected device. As a result, there isn’t a better time than right now to invest in computer network security.
Another factor is that the diversity of attacks is increasing. Because there are now more ways to hack systems than ever before, there are more opportunities for hackers to use different methods. This means that it's harder to protect against all possible threats because you have to be prepared for more kinds of attacks at one time.
The difference between a highly sophisticated attack and a simple one can mean a successful compromise and an unsuccessful one. In some cases, the difference in as little as a few lines of code is a minor distinction that can make all the difference in protecting your organization's data from cybercriminals!
New types of viruses and worms are being developed
The Internet is a virtual haven for information seekers, but it's also a breeding ground for hackers. The Internet has no boundaries and there is no single governing body to keep track of the bad guys. So how can you maintain computer network security?
The first step to maintaining computer network security is to know what you're up against. Let's take a look at the four types of threats you might encounter:
- Viruses are malicious codes that attach themselves to your hard drive and replicate themselves by infecting other programs on your computer. They can cause everything from mild annoyances to serious damage, such as deleting files or reformatting your hard drive. Some viruses are even designed to steal your personal information, such as bank account numbers or credit card numbers.
- Worms are self-replicating programs designed to spread from one computer to another through a network or via email. They typically consume bandwidth and may lead to system crashes or denial-of-service attacks against servers.
- Trojan horses are malicious programs that appear legitimate, but once downloaded they install harmful software such as viruses or worms on your system without your knowledge or consent.
Section: The common misconception people have about cyber security is that it only applies to large organizations or that it can be addressed by IT alone.
Cyber criminals are motivated primarily by financial gain
"Cyber security" is often used as a blanket term to refer to cybercrime or "infection." Still, it's important to remember that cyber security is a field of study that focuses on preventing and containing cyber attacks.
Cybercriminals are motivated primarily by financial gain, so it isn't surprising that the most common types of cyberattacks and cybercrimes revolve around stealing money. Common attacks include:
- DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks, in which a website is flooded with traffic until it crashes.
- Phishing: Criminals send messages pretending to be from reputable organizations to steal personal information.
But cyber security professionals aren't just focused on protecting against financial loss. They also work to protect proprietary information and intellectual property from theft or sabotage.
Here are the top three cybercrimes that have become more common in recent history:
- Ransomware: Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts your files and then requires you to pay a ransom for the encryption key to get them back.
- Cryptocurrency mining: Cybercriminals want to use your computer's processing power and electricity to mine cryptocurrency for themselves.
- Financial Information Theft: Cybercriminals want to steal your financial information, such as credit card numbers, routing numbers, and bank account numbers, so they can use it to make purchases or steal money from your accounts directly.
If you've ever asked, "Who would want to hack my website?" we have an answer for you: cybercriminals.
Cybercriminals are not just lone hackers; they are organized criminal groups who are motivated primarily by financial gain like any traditional criminal group. Cyber crime is on the rise and has resulted in a loss of $600 billion in 2016—and that number is expected to grow.
The information lost because of cybercrime is staggering, but the most common types of theft include:
- Your data (personal information and business information), which can be used to steal your identity and your company's revenue
- Your customers' data (e.g., credit card information), which can be used to steal your customers' identities and their hard-earned money
- Your intellectual property (e.g., trade secrets), can be used to give your competitors an unfair advantage over you
Most businesses have some cybersecurity software installed on their computers, but few think about their network's vulnerability to attack.
Most Internet users have had their personal information compromised at least once in the past few years
Whether it’s because of a data breach or a computer virus, most Internet users have compromised their personal information at least once in the past few years. In fact, almost 50 percent of users say they’ve had their credit card information stolen.
Just as you protect your home with locks and alarms, it’s essential to protect your devices from cyber threats. You can use firewalls, password management software, and encryption to help keep hackers out.
Remember that cybercriminals don’t just target individuals; they also go after businesses. Companies need to protect themselves by regularly updating software, deploying computer network security, and creating strong passwords.
Cyber crime is an industry that generates over $1 trillion annually for criminal organizations around the world
It's the fastest-growing criminal enterprise on Earth, and it doesn't show any signs of slowing down.
Businesses need to protect themselves from this threat with a comprehensive computer network security strategy. One of the most critical components of this strategy is identity management—the process of protecting, controlling, and monitoring access to your company's network.
Identity management is critical because compromised accounts are one of the most common ways criminals gain access to a company's network. Once they're in, they can steal customer data, extort money through ransomware, or even hold your entire system hostage until you pay them what they want.
Cyber crimes are on the rise due to increased connectivity across more devices and more people getting online
How many devices do you own? The average American has 4.2 internet-connected devices, from smartphones and tablets to laptops, PCs, smartwatches, and even smart TVs. And with the advent of 5G technology expected to connect even more devices in the coming years, that number is only going to grow.
This increased connectivity is good for us—it means we're never more than a few taps away from our favorite people, places, and things. It's great for businesses; they can reach vast numbers of potential customers with just the click of a button.
But it's also bad for us because it's easier than ever for cybercriminals to infiltrate our systems, steal our data, and put our lives at risk. Cybercrime is on the rise worldwide; From January to July 2022, there were 11,367 reported cases of cyber crime, with the rate of crime increasing 61% from 2016 to 2022.
The likelihood of being attacked is increasing exponentially, and it will happen to you.
Unless you take action now.
Cybercrime is on the rise because we're more connected than ever before—to each other and to everything else we own.
From our phones to our watches, cars, even our homes are connected to the internet. All of these devices are vulnerable to attack.
But that doesn't mean you're doomed! You can protect yourself from cybercriminals by partnering with a computer network security vendor to audit your online presence for vulnerabilities and make sure you're protected against attacks.
Cyber threats are evolving and adapting quickly due to advancements in technology and increases in connectivity across more devices and networks
You may not be able to stop cyber threats, but you CAN protect your business from them.
Cyber security is more critical today than ever before. Modern threats are evolving and adapting quickly due to advancements in technology and increases in connectivity across more devices and networks. As cyber security evolves, so do the threats—and each threat can result in reduced efficiency, increased downtime, lost revenue and liability issues for your business.
Faced with this growing complexity and unpredictability, many companies are turning to SSI for a full suite of computer network security services that will help them keep their business safe.
When you partner with SSI, we'll start by initially assessing your current network and systems to determine the level of risk your business faces. We'll work with you to develop a robust plan that will keep your company's data safe while ensuring compliance with industry standards.
We'll also help you minimize the impact of any future attacks by monitoring and updating your network on an ongoing basis—all while keeping you up to date on any changes in industry standards or new regulations that apply to your business.
In conclusion
SSI is the best at what we do. We ensure that your computer network security is adequate, working with you to protect your organization from cyber threats before they become devastating incidents.
We take the time to understand you, your business, and how it operates so that we can design a solution that fits your needs. We're proactive in our approach, taking action now to protect you in the future. Don't risk your business continuity and reputation by letting cyber threats go unchecked; we can help shield you from those risks and keep your company moving forward.