Businesses in today’s internet landscape can no longer ignore the threat that cyber attacks could not only disable but cripple their business’ ability to function online. Today, businesses small and large suffer cyber attack on a daily basis and it’s important to know the various threats that exist to their business’ cyber health. What follows is a list of threats you should be aware of if you want to ensure your business stays safe from cyber intrusion: Phishing: Here the attack typically comes in the form of a malicious link purporting to offer support, assistance or benefit of some sort. It is typically sent via email or social media outreach and seeks to retrieve your personal details, perhaps access to individual or company accounts. In some cases, these links initiate the download of malicious software to your computer network, which could lead to all sorts of cyber intrusions. Malware: Malware is downloaded from clicking on phishing emails or malicious websites or social posts and once it is downloaded can cause all sorts of damage on your network from spying to manipulation of website code. Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS): This attack launches an onslaught of server requests from a variety of sources, which is ultimately meant to overwhelm the server causing it to slow down considerably or crash. If successful, your network will be rendered useless until the continuous requests cease or are blocked. Brute Force Attacks: These kinds of schemes involve the attempt to gain access to a network by utilizing an algorithm to mount an extremely aggressive attack to discover a working password. For this reason it imperative that the same password not be used across a variety of network logins and that passwords are changed with regularity. Ransomeware: One of the most pernicious cyber attacks at work today, this is a kind of malware that, upon opening, secures control of the computer or computer network, shuts it down and encrypts the device rendering it useless. A sophisticated cyber attack, this threat prompts the demand for payment to release the network, its files and any affected devices, which can prove lucrative when the victim is a large municipality or a hospital system or large university somewhere. Many of these ransomeware attacks have been paid by large institutions, even though there is no guarantee the attackers will follow-through with releasing the affected network. This, unfortunately, encourages this strategy among hackers more and more every day. Typically these sorts of attackers are untraceable and their origin point is difficult to ascertain. That is why it is very important to remain vigilant to protect your business network from these sorts of intrusion attempts. If you have questions about maintaining network security or computer support for your business, contact the industry leaders at dotQ4 in Mokena, just outside of Chicago. You can reach us at 708 261 1844.
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