Professionals as well as individuals, all Internet users can be targeted by a hacker. The risk of a cyber-attack is real, and the stakes are often high. Securing your browsing should therefore be a priority for every Internet connection. It is clear that the techniques used by web hackers are often the same.
Solutions have been identified to drastically reduce the risk of being cyberattacked. Zoom in on the 8 most common cyber attacks and how to protect yourself against them.
Identify cyber attacks to better fight them
Computer attacks can be of various kinds. Zoom in on the favorite methods used by hackers for their attacks.
Malwares
A malware is a malicious program, which comes to damage a computer system to make it unusable or to control it remotely.
The malware is often installed when downloading an email attachment.
There are several types of malware. Trojan horses look like legitimate programs, so the recipient is not suspicious. Viruses are added to executive files and multiply. Just like computer worms, the difference is that they are self-executing without the need for additional files.
Phishing attacks
Phishing is the request for sensitive personal information by email, pretending to be a known and legitimate operator: a bank, an administrative body…
Man-in-the-middle attacks
The Man-in-the-middle technique consists in placing oneself between an Internet user and a legitimate website, by copying the latter. The hacker intercepts the data entered by the Internet user, for whom the dupe is perfect. The use of an insecure public Wi-Fi is an opportunity for cyber-assailants.
DDos or Distributed Denial of Service
The Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack clogs a server with multiple connection attempts. The website finds itself unable to handle this sudden influx of massive traffic. Pages are no longer displayed, the site is unavailable.
The SQL injection attack
An SQL injection attack takes place directly in the heart of a program. The hacker integrates a line of code that will defeat the security of the software and make user data visible.
The zero-day attack
A web host or a website operator who announces a maintenance operation is exposed to a high risk of hacking. With a zero-day attack, the cyber attacker takes advantage of an announced vulnerability to act.
Ransomwares
Ransomware is widely talked about. The hacker accesses certain sensitive files or the connection system and locks them. To restore them, he demands the payment of a ransom.
Cryptojacking
Crypto-currencies are attracting more and more investors. This craze and the prospect of more than honorable gains have not escaped the hackers of the net, who now practice cryptojacking, in other words, the mining of cryptocurrency.
VPN to protect yourself from a cyber attack
Data is worth its weight in gold to hackers. To get it back, they multiply cyber attacks, in various forms.
The VPN, Virtual Private Network, is a unique and efficient answer for these different types of attacks. Installing a VPN on your computer provides multiple protection.
Connecting via a VPN allows you to surf anonymously. The location is changed at each connection, thanks to a randomly generated screen IP address. The path on the net is untraceable, and much less personal data is left behind.
The encryption provided by the VPN, along with the encryption of the data, makes it highly secure. Without the decryption key, hackers cannot access it.
Avoiding cyber attacks: other solutions
Using a VPN to connect to the Internet does not exempt you from taking preventive measures against possible computer attacks.
Antivirus, firewall and upgrade
Malware damage is spreading rapidly. Networked devices can all be infected in no time.
The best way to prevent this is to protect your computer with an antivirus or a firewall. And to make sure you upgrade when the time comes.
Multi-factor authentication against identity theft
A hacker who gets a password and/or a login will not hesitate to use it. The two-factor authentication makes these elements insufficient. To log in, even with the right credentials, several actions are required. Like communicating a code sent on another device.
User vigilance
The use of virtual shields to ward off cyber attacks is widely advocated. However, the first factor in the fight against cyber attacks is the vigilance of the user. He is strongly advised to keep his connection identifiers secret; to choose highly secure passwords that are difficult to guess and crack; to change them regularly; and to check the reliability and authenticity of websites visited and emails received before opening them.
By their nature, cyber attacks can be classified into several categories. However, the inventiveness and tenacity of hackers should not be underestimated. A few common sense precautions coupled with the use of a VPN are the most effective solutions against cyber attacks.
