The most common cybersecurity threats and how to prevent them

You might think you are sufficiently protected from all sorts of dangers that lurk on the internet. However, your perception of this subject may change after you take a closer look at the statistics. According to Statista, the number of exposed records due to data breaches reached 155 million in the United States alone. It is a massive amount of individuals affected by data exposures.

To prevent this from happening to you, your loved ones, or your business, you should learn about the most common cybersecurity threats and know what you can do to avoid them. From malware, phishing attacks, and social engineering to man-in-the-middle attacks and password theft — all of these security risks can make your life much more difficult. Below, we explain what malware and social engineering are and share some effective methods to stop them. Let’s get started.

Malware

Malware is a type of software that can be used for various illegal purposes, including identity theft, credit card fraud, and ransomware. It can come in multiple forms, including viruses, worms, Trojans, backdoors, spyware, and rootkits. Malware can also be a part of a botnet — a network of computers controlled by cybercriminals.

While there are numerous types of malware, they generally fall into two categories: active (also known as running) and passive (also known as dormant). Active malware is the one that is actively doing something ‘bad’ to your device, while passive malware only waits for its trigger to perform malicious actions.

Some examples of active malware include email attachments with embedded malware, malicious links in emails and social media posts, spam messages, and bogus updates for programs installed on your device. On the other hand, passive malware includes spyware, keyloggers, rootkits, and trojans. Some examples of passive malware include malware hidden in legitimate files and on websites with a shady reputation (e.g., torrents or porn sites).

The good news is that you don’t have to be an expert to avoid these types of malware. Here are some tips that will help you stay safe:

Use trusted apps and sources — it’s great to automate various processes and use technology to your advantage,…