Cybercrime is a major issue affecting businesses of all sizes and in all industries in 2024. With the rise in business activities taking place digitally, new technologies, and sophisticated new attacks being used, every organization is at risk. A cyber-attack can harm a business in many ways, including data loss, downtime, legal issues, and reputation damage. These issues can be hard to recover from, which is why cybersecurity must be a top priority in the current landscape. It is helpful to be aware of what the main threats are in 2024 and how you can protect your business. Keep reading to find out more.
Phishing & Social Engineering
Phishing and social engineering remain prevalent attacks in 2024 and are becoming increasingly difficult to defend against as they involve tricking users into downloading malicious files or sharing sensitive information. Attacks are now so sophisticated that even vigilant users can fall victim, which means that all users must be educated on the latest phishing and social engineering attacks. The key is to be wary of unsolicited emails and never download any suspicious files or share sensitive information online.
Ransomware
Ransomware is another type of attack on the rise, and it’s becoming harder to defend against. As the name suggests, this involves attacks gaining access and taking sensitive data hostage. Many cybercriminals will encrypt data and/or release sensitive information if the ransom is not paid, but of course, there is no guarantee the data will be returned even if payment is made. It is important to use strong cybersecurity measures to protect data, including MFA, access control, and antivirus software. Users should also back up sensitive data externally so that there is always another version available.
API Attacks
APIs have become critical for modern businesses as a way to enable different software systems to interact and exchange data. APIs have also become a prime target for criminals in recent times, and weaknesses in API security must be addressed. These can include improper authentication and validation, which can lead to data breaches. A comparison of Postman vs Insomnia shows that Insomnia is the better platform for API security, with collections never publicly available – only users who have explicitly been granted access by the company can access them, and you are not required to host your data in the Cloud.
Denial-of-Service (DoS) Attacks
DoS attacks are another common type of attack that can take a business down by rendering computer and network tasks unusable. This is done by flooding the network with false requests, which disrupts business operations and can lead to significant downtime (costing businesses a fortune and damaging reputation). There are a few ways to protect against DoS attacks, including network segmentation to limit the impact, installing and maintaining antivirus software, and monitoring network traffic. Organizations should also have a DoS attack response plan to respond swiftly and effectively to mitigate the effects of a successful attack.
Cybercrime is rampant in 2024, and the above are a few of the main attacks being used. Knowing what these attacks are and how to defend against them is key to protecting your business and peace of mind.
