Despite the numerous benefits and advantages, we get from the Internet and Information Technologies (IT), the connectivity between billions of web users across the globe also creates new challenges and threats. Different from wrongdoings in the real world, cybersecurity threats present a unique form of misconduct that hides the offender behind a digital device. Preying on uninformed and technologically inexperienced internet users, cybercriminals find ways to sabotage connections, steal data, and even blackmail targeted parties to extort money.
While the frequency of petty cybercrimes has decreased, as skilled criminals choose to target company networks or databases and not so much individual web users, the danger is still prevalent due to the widespread use of the internet and many forms of cybersecurity threats.
Small and up-and-coming businesses have become frequent cybercrime targets, where a lack of digital training and attention to cybersecurity leaves a lot of vulnerabilities for criminals to pounce on. Thankfully, with staff education on key security issues and strategic protection of digital resources, you can prevent malicious parties from entering your private or company networks.
This article covers information on common security threats for businesses and private users and how they can be stopped with good digital hygiene and strategic software changes, from deployment of internet privacy tools like static residential proxy to structural changes, such as shifting to security-focused operating systems like Linux. Keep reading to learn how good habits and changes can protect your network and save you from financial losses.
Most Common Cybersecurity Threats
The best way to break down problems with cybercrime is to target the common threats from top to bottom. As we look at reports on the most frequent cybersecurity threats in the U.S, reported in 2023, traps like spoofing and payment scams seem to accumulate the most victims:
- Phishing/Spoofing: almost 300,000 cases
- Non-Payment and Investment Scams: Non-payment and Investment crimes were reported by over 90,000 individuals, where the client pays for goods and services and gets nothing in return
- Personal Data Breach: Over 55,000 cases of data breaches leading to potential information leaks
- Extortion: Extortion scams were reported by almost 40,000, often tied to information leaks with data used for blackmail.
- Tech Support Scams: 33,000 cases of reported Tech support scams
It is worth mentioning that although some threats are less frequent, crimes like data breaches and extortion can have long-lasting negative effects, both financially and in personal life.
Malware and its Role in Cybercrime
Short for malicious software, malware coins all digital tools created to damage your network and/or digital devices. With different variations and intent, malware can be designed to extract information from your device, take control of available digital resources, or infect devices in the network.
The effectiveness of malware can vary greatly depending on your software and OS. For example, Linux is a beloved OS for servers and other company resources due to its unparalleled control over network devices and security appliances, thanks to robust security features, flexibility, and ability to be customized for specific security needs. System administrators with proficiency in command-line usage, file permissions, user and group management, networking, security tools, and practices can stop most malware threats, while the Linux system itself is constantly updated by numerous contributors to catch and eliminate vulnerabilities ahead of time.
The use of malware plays a role in most common cybersecurity threats. Phishing emails often lead to unknown websites and download links which deploy malware on your system. Through various tricks and unique presentations, fraudsters know how to make an e-mail seem urgent. When tricked, victims often end up not only clicking the malicious link but also giving up other sensitive private information – a significant advantage for a cybercriminal that can use new power to exploit other vulnerabilities.
While phishing is a powerful gateway towards other vulnerabilities, picking the right OS and informing yourself or your employees on dangers and tricks used for phishing attacks, non-payment frauds, and tech support, scams will provide a solid defense when common sense is accompanied by technical literacy. When shopping, look for credible websites with trusted user reviews. In search of tech support, be mindful that companies that manage your accounts and resources will never ask for your credentials or try to install unauthorized software on your device. Although it may seem odd how some internet users fall into the hands of cybercriminals, one vulnerability can lead to a cascade of new threats and damages.
Managing Connections with Proxy Servers
Because most cybercrimes stem from the exploitation of weaknesses, protecting your web connection before safety issues begin to surface. For example, by routing company connections through a static residential proxy, businesses never expose a key parameter – a public IP address. When connections are routed through an intermediary server, other parties cannot trace the transmitted connections to the original sender. This way, a static residential proxy provides consistent identities that help distance the sender from the delivered data packets and the recipient. Proxy servers also help against phishing, as filtering services can blacklist links from known phishing sites, and even if some phishers manage to slip by, IP address masking makes it harder to reach targets.
At the same time, proxy servers can protect against data breaches. When connections are masked, cybercriminals struggle to steal information. Meanwhile, because businesses utilize web connections and automated tools for data-sensitive tasks, static residential proxies are essential for streamlining digital tasks and processes and protection from data breaches.
Summary
As cybercriminals continue to exploit gullible internet users and vulnerabilities in information systems, education, and preventative action are essential tools for the navigation of cyberspace. Choosing secure OS like Linux and Unix-based systems, forming good digital hygiene habits, and protecting your connections with proxy servers create a solid and effortless cybersecurity system, where attempts to weaken the system are addressed before vulnerabilities start to grow and lead to devastating cybercrimes.
