As cybercrime becomes more and more complex, it’s easy to get lost in the technical terminology and complicated methods used by IT professionals to keep your network safe.
While many of us like to think we have a solid understanding of the risks presented by cybercriminals, the reality is much more convulded than many realize.
This article will dive into some of the basic concepts you should be familiar with when it comes to cybercrime, security hackers, and more.
What is Cybercrime?
The definition of cybercrime, according to Dictionary.com, is simple: “Criminal activities carried out by means of computers or the internet.”
Within that definition, though, is a complicated network of terms, threats, and countermeasures. Cybercrime includes things like identity theft and piracy, and continues into even darker corners of the web.
What is a Security Hacker?
The term, “Security hacker,” is a relatively general one. Dictionary.com defines the term as, “someone who explores methods for breaching defenses and exploiting weakness in a computer system or network.”
A security hacker is essentially someone who is looking for ways to break into a network, but their motivations for doing so aren’t always the same. Most of the time these hackers are seeking profit or personal information they can steal, but there are also those who do it to help build defenses, on behalf of companies or organizations, against other hackers.
There are many classifications of security hackers, but for the purpose of general information, the above description covers much of the basics.
What is a Cyber Attack?
To again start with a definition, a cyber attack is described as, “A deliberate exploitation of computer systems, technology-dependent enterprises and networks.”
In layman’s terms, a cyberattack is when a network is targeted for an attack in an attempt to expose or steal information, do harm to a network, or gain unauthorized access for any reason.
The most common cyberattack comes in the form of malware.
What is Malware?
According to ITgovernanceUSA.com, Malware is malicious software used to breach information systems by exploiting network vulnerabilities.
Malware can wreak havoc on a network by blocking access to the network itself, copying data, and even shutting down the system altogether.
Malware attacks have increased 350% since 2017, according to the NTT Security 2018 Global Threat Intelligence Report. This is a cyberattack that you need to be aware of.
What is Being Done to Stop Cybercrime?
Cyber security is defined as, “the protection of computer systems from the theft of or damage to their hardware, software, or electronic data, as well as from the disruption or misdirection of the services they provide,” by Wikipedia.
While the term is mostly self explanatory, cyber security is also a complex field that’s constantly evolving.
Cyber security involves teams of people, processes, technology, and more to try to keep networks and information secure.
There’s no question that cybercrime poses significant risk in our world today. Luckily, there are tons of professionals, companies, and organizations dedicated to keeping your network secure.
With that being said, knowledge is power, so try to stay up to date on the ever-evolving field of cybercrime and security.
Categorised in: IT Consulting Services, malware, mobile issues, Network Issues, Security, Uncategorized, workplace issues