As we become more dependent upon technology, the threat of cyber attacks forever looms over us. The solution isn’t exactly to let go of technology. Just because a thief can break into your home, the solution isn’t to no longer have a home; rather, the aim will be to make your home more secure. The same logic applies here. In this blog post, we’ll discuss what cyber attacks are and how to combat and tackle them.
Cyber attacks are attempts by bad characters, often called hackers, to steal your data, cause disruptions in systems, or even try to take control of your devices. Cyber attacks aren’t new; they’ve been around for as long as the technology of the internet has been in existence.
The goal of these attacks varies—some do it for money, whilst others just want to watch the world burn. Phishing scams are a common type of cyber attack wherein an individual pretends to be emailing from a reputable source and tries to fool someone into providing their password, bank details, personal information, etc.
The sheer numbers revolving around cyber crimes are rather staggering. A research and publishing company by the name of Cybersecurity Ventures has predicted that annually, by 2025, the damages incurred by cyber crimes will be $10.5 trillion. This number, in 2015, was around $3 trillion. They used a fantastic metaphor and, we quote, “If it were measured as a country, then cybercrime — which is predicted to inflict damages totaling $6 trillion USD globally in 2021 — would be the world’s third-largest economy after the U.S. and China.” – Steve Morgan
A misconception exists among the masses that hackers and cybercriminals relegate themselves only to organizations. Whilst, yes, that is the more lucrative option for them, home networks can be easy pickings and it would be highly irresponsible to assume a home network is safe or “not a target” for cybercrimes. Such a home network, inadvertently, becomes the easiest target.
The responsibility of online data protection falls in the hands of the average home network owner. Merely knowing how to spot these potential threats within your network goes a long way in protecting yourself and everyone within your network from phishing scams, as well as keeping your smart home devices safe. Let’s go over the ways one can spot a cyberattack:
If you notice your PC being slow to the point of frustration, it isn’t always a time to upgrade; perhaps a cleanup is required. When a PC is infected with a virus, commands take much longer to process. Furthermore, the virus may be trying to insert its own code within your operating system, slowing it down and executing malicious programs.
There is a type of cyberattack known as a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack. The goal here is to overwhelm a network (like your Wi-Fi, for example) with devices and traffic so it becomes slow to the point where it is practically unusable.
A common sight tech support service experts see is a PC that is simply bombarded with pop-up ads, and individuals tend to often just ignore them, assuming they’re just an inconvenience at best. But these signal a deeper issue. If you start seeing an unusually high number of pop-ups or are being redirected to unfamiliar websites, your device might be infected with adware or other malicious software. Ransomware, in particular, is a type of malware that locks your device and demands payment for its release.
Read Also: Two-Factor Authentication And Its Role In Modern Cybersecurity
It is practically never recommended to turn off your antivirus program or your firewalls, and that is exactly why one of the very first things cybercriminals will do after gaining access to your device is disable them. It makes carrying out their attack much easier. If you notice that your security software has been turned off without your permission, it might be an indication of a larger issue.
In Windows, for example, you can check your data usage using two methods:
Sudden spikes in data usage on your devices or network could be a sign that malware is operating in the background. This is a major red flag and can also cause your computer to greatly slow down.
It falls upon the average individual to learn about these topics, in a practical sense, to best combat the threat of cybercrimes. In case it isn’t possible for you to keep an active track of these things, it is recommended to partner up with a tech support service that can ensure that your home network is not only functioning as it should but is safe and secure to use for both you and anyone that visits your home.
Technology ought to be enjoyed and used to the best of its capabilities. As a home network owner, try your best to actively look out for these signs and act fast to rectify them; vigilance is the key. The more time hackers or malware have with your home network or PC, the more damage they can incur. With that said, it isn’t impossible to fight against them either. With proactive measures and a visit to a professional tech support service, you should keep your smart home devices safe and working.
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