Cybercrime
What is cybercrime and why does it occur? Well, that’s the million-dollar question. Criminals and those in desperate situations; typically commit cybercrime for the purpose of gaining profits. However, cybercrime has also been committed for political or religious reasons. Sometimes it is even committed by sadistic individuals for the sake of personal enjoyment.
Since the popularization of the internets, cybercrime has become a growing problem. With some of the earliest known cases around the early-mid 1980’s. Up to the popularization of social media platforms, enabling an explosive increase in cybercrime-rates.
Some of the most common forms of cybercrime are: malicious attacks, identity theft, data theft, intellectual property infringement, terrorism, hacking, and phishing. Even the Depart of National Defence has experienced cybersecurity breaches in the past – thus, nobody is invulnerable.
Cyberattacks
What is a cyberattack? A cyberattack is a malicious and deliberate attempt by an individual or organization to breach the information system of another individual or organization. Usually, the attacker seeks some type of benefit from disrupting the victim's network.
How often do cyberattacks occur? According to an Annual Cybersecurity Report, the total volume of events has increased nearly fourfold between January 2016 and October 2017.
Common types of cyberattacks are: malware, phishing, man-in-the-middle, denial-of-service, SQL (Structured Query Language) injection, or DNS (Dynamic Name Server) tunneling.
Malware
Malicious-software (malware) which includes a host of different forms, such as: spyware, ransomware, viruses, worms, and adware. Malware usually infects a computer/network via Phishing or when a user opens a malicious email, downloads a suspicious file, visits a suspicious website, or unwittingly enables a backdoor “trojan virus” to gain access.
Once inside, the malware is able to block user access to the network, install additional malware, extract data, or disrupt certain systems and traffic/usage. This may occur discretely in the background, unbeknownst to the user, or it may intentionally reveal itself to the user as an error or other. This is how “hackers” gain access to your private systems to levy anything they so desire.
Phishing
Phishing attacks are fraudulent communications or domains which appear to originate from a reputable or trusted source. They are designed to lure a victim.
For example, you click on a phishing link in an email, which directs you to website which appears exactly as your online banking would, however being a fake intended to steal your banking data. Although such is not always the intended purpose. The goal maybe to steal something from the user, or to embed a form of malware to gain access.
Man-in-the-middle
MitM attacks, also considered an “eavesdropping” attack, occurs when hackers insert themselves into a two-party transaction. Once the network traffic is interrupted, they are able to filter and steal data. The two common points of entry for MitM attacks are unsecured public Wi-Fi and a general malware infection.
Denial-of-service
A DoS or DDoS (distributed-denial-of-service) attack, floods systems, server, or networks with useless traffic to exhaust resources and hog bandwidth. This could last anywhere from a few hours to a few days, at the very least. This will result in a severe or complete blockage of any data traffic going in or out of the targeted device / network of devices.
Structured Query Language Injection
A Structured Query Language (SQL) injection occurs when an attacker inserts malicious code into a server that uses SQL and forces the server to reveal information it normally would not. An attacker could carry out a SQL injection simply by submitting malicious code into a vulnerable website search box.
DNS Tunneling
DNS tunneling utilizes the DNS protocol to communicate non-DNS traffic over port 53. It sends HTTP and other protocol traffic over DNS. There are various, legitimate reasons to utilize DNS tunneling. However, there are also malicious reasons to use DNS Tunneling VPN services. They can be used to disguise outbound traffic as DNS, concealing data that is typically shared through an internet connection. For malicious use, DNS requests are manipulated to exfiltrate data from a compromised system to the attacker’s infrastructure. It can also be used for command and control callbacks from the attacker’s infrastructure to a compromised system.)
Data Theft
There are several purposes to committing data theft. Among them being: identity theft, fraud, datamining, espionage, or general exploitation. Both organizations and individuals should concern themselves with the matter. Stealing personal, corporate, or government data is a criminal offence and is potentially harmful to the targeted party. This includes more serious effects to things such as finances or intellectual property. Hackers might even want to just sell your information to the highest bidder.
To explain, data is contained within any file/folder/directory/drive on any given computer-device. This is consistent in the forms of images, audio, video, documents, logs, profiles, contacts, hardware specifications, and OS (operating system) account information. Data is also generated by the electronic footprint of a user when browsing the internet or other. Websites and search engines will collect and store information such as your IP (internet protocol) address and ISP (internet service provider). Much of your personal data is stored on remote servers you access intentionally or inadvertently. You may not have access to or control of, this data, which is usually lawfully obtained by accepting an electronic agreement.
Exposing yourself to the internet increases your vulnerability to data theft and exploitation by 100%. There are approximately 4-5 billion internet users worldwide (which constitutes around half the world-population), with millions of professional and amateur hackers. This virtual sea is an immense playground for those with the competence to navigate, explore, and exploit it as they see fit.
Protection
Anyone who uses a smartphone, computer, laptop, datapad, SmartTV, computerized appliance, or a computerized vehicle, or any computer-device connecting to the internet; are all susceptible to various forms of cybercrime. Majority of these crimes are software or network related. In order to be properly protected from this, there must be a layered system of security programs, features, network control, and hardware devices.
The average person may be satisfied with basic protection provided by a local I.T./Computer store, wherein a small fee is paid in exchange for a consultation, service, or product; which may create a basic barrier to defend against these attacks.
However, those with more stringent or extensive security requirements should definitely explore their options by consulting Private Security & Investigative Agencies. They are the real experts in analyzing, determining, and building your security barrier against cybercrime.
By hiring the services of said agencies, you increase the chances of successful protection as well as a more in-depth and comprehensive design, catered to your particular security requirements. We have the resources, tools, devices, knowledge, experience, and dedication that can help you overcome this daunting new-age problem.