Shield Against Common Cyber Threats

In our last article, we talked about why cybersecurity is important to protect your digital life. Now, let’s discuss some common threats you might face online. You've probably heard stories about people losing money or personal information due to cyberattacks. Well, these attacks often involve viruses, malware, and phishing.

Common Cyber Threats

Viruses are like digital germs that can infect your computer and cause problems. They can spread from one computer to another, often through email attachments or downloads. Just like you wouldn’t open a strange package, avoid opening suspicious email attachments or clicking on unknown links. ?

Malware (short for malicious software) is a term for any software that is designed to steal data and damage or destroy computers and computer systems. This includes viruses, but it also covers other malicious programs like worms, Trojan viruses, spyware, and ransomware. Ransomware locks your files and demands payment to unlock them. It’s like a digital kidnapping! ?

Phishing is a sneaky trick where someone tries to get your personal information by pretending to be someone you trust. They might send you an email that looks like it's from your bank, asking for your password. Don’t be fooled! Legitimate companies won’t ask for your personal information through email or unauthorized channels. Legitimate companies do not request your passwords.

Phishing is a very common threat that applies to both individuals and businesses, IBM identifies phishing as the leading initial attack vector, responsible for 41% of incidents.

Simple Safety Measures

To protect yourself from these threats, follow these tips:

• Keep your software updated: This includes your operating system and antivirus software.
• Be cautious of email attachments: Don’t open attachments from unknown senders. ?
• Use strong passwords: Make your passwords hard to guess and change them regularly. ?
• Be wary of suspicious links: Hover over links before clicking to see where they lead. ?
• Back up your files: This way, if something happens to your computer, you won’t lose everything.

Key Takeaways:

Viruses, malware, and phishing are common cyber threats. ?

They can steal your information, damage your computer, or lock you out of your files. ?

Be careful what you click on and open, and never share personal information with someone you don’t know.

In our next TigerByte, we’ll dive deeper into how to create strong passwords and protect your online accounts. Stay tuned!

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For more information and advanced cybersecurity training, check out websites like Fortinet (Free Cybersecurity Training) and Cisco (Cybersecurity Courses).