Information Security: Understand the Main Threats

That's because cybercriminals understand the value that sensitive data has for the business, sometimes even more than the company itself. Therefore, when realizing that data is generated and stored virtually, the invasion becomes the main objective.

Therefore, it is necessary to treat Information Security as a requirement for the company's success, ensuring that cyber risks cannot reach it.

In this article, we'll talk a little more about this important area, in addition to presenting the most common threats that are targeting your IT environment. Follow!

What is Information Security?

Information Security is a concept that goes beyond the IT sector. It covers the use of various tools to protect the company's sensitive information and ensure that it is available to authorized persons.

Its role is defined through three pillars:

Confidentiality:  confidential information should not be accessed by unauthorized persons.

Integrity:  the data must not be altered or deleted in an unforeseen or authorized manner, that is, the guarantee that the data will be intact.

Availability:  the service or access to information must always be available to those who have authorization.

The three points complement each other and guide the creation of a good  Information Security Policy (PSI).

As threats to Information Security go beyond problems with malware and intrusions, it is necessary to think not only about the protection of the IT sector, but about the rules for creating passwords, confidentiality contracts, and restricting access to information and physical spaces. inside the company.

What Are the Most Common Threats to Information Security?

Scan

It is an attack that breaks confidentiality in order to analyze details of computers present on the network (such as operating system, activity, and services) and to identify possible targets for other attacks.

The main form of prevention is the maintenance of a firewall in the company and an adequate network configuration.

Worm

Worms are some of the most common and old malware. Malware is a software intended to harm the "host" computer.

This category includes both viruses and worms, among several other types of malicious programs.

Worms are dangerous because of their ability to spread quickly over the network and affect sensitive company files.

Rootkit

This is a threat that originated from the exploitation of Linux kits. It aims to defraud access by logging into the system as root, that is, a user with the power to do anything.

Rootkit attacks are made from malware. When the machine is infected, malicious files hidden in the system and, with that discretion, free the way for attackers to act.

Despite its emergence on Linux, malware is capable of causing damage to Windows and Mac operating systems. Undoubtedly, it is a great danger for corporate environments.

DDoS (denial of service)

Denial of service attacks, better known as DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service), are among the most frequent. They aim to make a system, infrastructure, or servers unavailable, causing disruption to services.

How does it happen? Upon receiving the attack, the target is overwhelmed in different ways (use of broadband, software failures, or excessive use of resources), which can cause a lot of damage to the victim.

Ransomware

The ransomware family is a set of malware-type viruses and has been used extensively for the practice of data extortion crimes - a practice also known as data hijacking.

The way in which ransomware acts varies depending on its version, as each malware released exploits a different breach in the operating system. This detail, in fact, is what makes the attacks so sudden and, at the same time, fatal.

Although the way in which the virus manifests itself varies, the purpose is the same: to block all files on the computer, preventing the system from being used properly, and forwarding messages requesting payment for the ransom.

Some companies have even negotiated millionaire values ​​with criminals to have the data returned.

However, making the payment is not recommended, as there is no guarantee that the situation will return to normal - in addition to stimulating crime.

Due to the number of attacks, ransomware is currently seen as the biggest threat.

Rescue Virus

As the expansion of ransomware attacks continued, many users (mostly corporate) were desperate for not knowing how to act in the face of data hijacking.

The recommendation is always to avoid paying the ransom and use a solution to recover the files - preferably developed by trusted manufacturers.

However, cybercriminals sought to circumvent this by creating a virus that activates the offer of a program to rescue the hijacked data. That is, it is a virus that offers another one for the user to pay for an illegitimate solution.

Fake Antivirus

Selecting antivirus products is not a simple task as it seems since there are solutions that, in fact, are rooting for even bigger problems that your network may be facing.

Just as there is the rescued virus, a new wave of fake antiviruses, which offers a product to track threats and clean your computer.

These viruses are known to be of the locker type, as well as ransomware and malware, which require payments by bitcoins or credit card.

Phishing

The practice of phishing consists of sending email messages, where the attacker impersonates a legitimate and trusted institution (usually banks and online transaction services), inducing the victim to pass on registration information.

This is one of the oldest known pitfalls on the Internet, and yet it continues to attract many victims who use email.

Lately, phishing has been used in attacks by BEC (Business Email Compromise), which aims to make representatives of the target company think they are communicating with executives.

In this way, institutions end up making deposits in third parties' accounts without knowing that it is a fraud. The worst of all is that the criminal leaves no trace, as the message does not contain any attachments or links.

We conclude that, at any moment, these threats can arise and make your company a serious victim. Therefore, it is important to keep updated, as well as invest in the best practices of Information Security like Total Security Software.