Why the internet is a threat to itself

The internet is an incredibly powerful tool. It has completely changed the way we work, study, and interact with others. But the same tool that connects us also leaves us vulnerable to attacks from hackers and criminals.

The internet is a threat to itself. It is the most likely means for humanity to be attacked by threat actors who want to harm us or threaten our corporate existence.

Here are some of the threats that the internet has exposed us to:

• Disinformation:

The threat of disinformation is one that’s been growing since the early days of the internet. Disinformation is false information deliberately presented as truth, with the intention of hurting someone or damaging their reputation. It can be used for political reasons or simply for personal gain.

In recent years, there have been several examples of disinformation being used in attempts to influence elections around the world.

• Cyber warfare:

The purpose of cyber warfare is to attack and exploit computer networks and computers as weapons. These attacks are conducted with the goal of undermining enemy defense and disrupting normalcy within an enemy’s information infrastructure. Cyber warfare emerged from the early days of internet growth and digital communication when the first reported use of computers and networks as tools for war occurred.

Cyber warfare was used by Russia during its invasion of Georgia in 2008 and has continued to be used as a tool for political control since then.

• Spoofing

In general, spoofing is a dishonest or harmful activity in which communication is delivered from an unidentified source while being presented to the recipient as coming from an established source. The majority of spoofing occurs in communication systems with low levels of security.

• Browser hijackers

A malicious program known as a “browser hijacker” adjusts web browser settings without the user’s knowledge and drives them to websites they did not plan to visit. Because it leads the browser to additional, frequently harmful websites, a browser hijacker is frequently referred to as a browser redirect virus.

• Bluesnarfing

Bluesnarfing, which is more prevalent on laptops and smartphones than other wireless devices, is the use of a Bluetooth connection to steal data from a wireless device. Cybercriminals can silently target devices up to 300 feet away by using programming languages that enable them to locate Bluetooth devices that are continuously on and in “discovery” mode.

• Malware

Any application that is harmful to a computer user is considered malware. Computer viruses, spyware, ransomware, worms, and Trojan horses are all examples of malware. These harmful applications are capable of performing a variety of tasks, such as stealing, encrypting, or deleting sensitive data, altering or taking over crucial computing operations, and secretly watching how people interact with their computers.

• Key logger

A keylogger is a kind of surveillance technology utilized to watch and record each keystroke typed on a particular computer’s keyboard. It is also referred to as a keystroke logger or system monitor. A keylogger can log instant chats, emails, and other information you write on your keyboards, such as passwords, usernames, and other details that can be used to identify you.

• Denial of Service (DoS)

Denial-of-service attacks are one of the most common forms of cyber-attack. They can be generated from a single computer or from multiple computers. Denial of service (DoS) attacks are malicious attempts to make a machine or network resource unavailable to its intended users. It can be accomplished by flooding the target with external communications requests, such as querying a Domain Name System (DNS) server, thereby preventing it from completing legitimate requests.

• Phishing

Phishing is a type of scam that uses email to trick people into revealing their personal information, such as usernames and passwords. Phishing is typically carried out by email spoofing or instant messaging, and it often directs users to enter personal information at a fake website whose look and feel are almost identical to the legitimate one.

• Man in the Middle (MITM)

A man-in-the-middle (MITM) attack occurs when hackers insert themselves into a transaction that involves two people. After causing traffic to be affected, they can watch and collect data. MITM attacks commonly occur when a visitor uses an unprotected public Wi-Fi network. Attackers block access to the visitor and the network before using malware to install dangerous software and get access to data.

• SQL injection

A specific kind of cyber attack called a Structured Query Language (SQL) injection happens when malicious code is installed into a server that supports SQL. The server divulges information when infected. Simply typing the malicious code into a search box on a susceptible website can submit it.

• Password attacks

A cyber attacker can access a lot of data with the correct password. Social engineering is a sort of password assault that “relies primarily on human interaction and frequently involves persuading users into breaching common security procedures.” Accessing a password database or blatant guessing are examples of other password assaults.

How to protect yourself against internet threats

Here are a few tips on how to protect yourself against Internet threats:

1. Stay informed

The best way to stay safe online is by staying informed about the latest cyber threats and how they can affect you. Use reputable sources of information, such as blogs and news sites that report on security issues.

2. Activate multi-factor authentication (MFA)

With MFA user authentication can be strengthened beyond just using passwords. Users should be able to access this protection, and organizations should make sure they do as well.

3. Always make backups

To prevent data loss in the event of an incident, all important data should be replicated and kept securely. You can make a backup of a website, a device disk, or even a web server.

4. Update all hardware, software, and operating systems

Unpatched computer systems are more susceptible to programming flaws that haven’t yet been found. Software engineers continuously look for flaws and release updates to address them. Consider downloading these updates to safeguard yourself.

5. Scan for malware

Maintaining the security of your computer equipment requires routine scans for infestations. It’s advisable for computer networks and enterprise endpoint devices to use this type of security.

Conclusion

The internet is the most powerful tool for human communication ever created. It has the potential to be a force for good, but it can also be used for evil. It is also important to utilize a deep backup system that does not rely on the Internet.

As we have seen in this article, it’s important to be aware of internet threats and find a way of protecting yourself against them.

Our Research Analyst: Endurance Igbru