May 07, 2020

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Author: Billie Walden

6 Common Types Of Cyber Threats!

As the world has moved on, technology takes a huge step into the future. However, risks are also increasing. First of all, these are Internet risks. Here, users face such a phenomenon as cyber threats.

A cyber threat is an illegal act. The main purpose is to steal user data, cause damage, or cause digital harm on the Internet. As a rule, each cyber threat reflects the risk of a cyber attack. A cyber attack is a planned activity on the Internet aimed at hacking or stealing user information. This can be information from an individual user or an entire organization.

Hackers value not only social network accounts and Bank card details, but even photos or audio recordings in the device’s memory. Using the stolen accounts, the criminals send out spam or to use them in fraudulent schemes. Theft of financial data helps cybercriminals to gain direct access to your accounts. And personal photos are an excellent tool for blackmail.

There are also known cases of extortion of funds under the threat of much larger fines for watching pirated movies and listening to illegally downloaded music.

Ineffective implementation of security protocols leads to cyber threats. In this article, we will discuss the main cyber threats and tell you the reliable method of protection, based on the developed security formula!

The main types of cyber threats

Malware program

Malware is a variety of spyware, viruses, worms, and ransomware. As a rule, such a program works on the following principle: the user clicks on a malicious link and unknowingly gives hackers access to his data. Malicious software can cause serious damage to the user:

• blocks the system;
• installs other malicious surveillance software;
• downloads user information;
• destroys the system, making it unusable.

Phishing

Phishing is sending messages to your email. In this way, scammers get various confidential user data, such as credit card information, username and passwords, and personal correspondence.

Man-in-the-middle attack

The man-in-the-middle attack is a unique program designed to spy upon people. Using it, hackers get access to the connection and insert into it to copy all files and steal data. They need two access points to perform this type of attack:

1. Unprotected public Wi-Fi. Using an unsecured network, criminals insert into the connection between user’s devices and the network. This way, an attacker can steal all the data completely unnoticed. 
2. Hacking the system with malware. For this, the attacker pre-installed the malware to copy all the data unnoticed then.

Denial of service attack

A denial-of-service attack does everything possible to exhaust traffic. Therefore, the system stops executing user requests. Sometimes hackers use multiple devices to launch this type of attack, which results in data theft and a complete shutdown of the system.

SQL-injection

Injection of the structured query language (SQL) involves the use of malicious code. An attacker inserts such code on a server that uses SQL, thereby finding out all the information that is usually hidden. They can send this code by email or add it to the search bar of a vulnerable website.

DNS tunneling

DNS uses a unique DNS Protocol for transmitting traffic over port 53. According to it, it sends HTTP and other data through DNS. It can mask outgoing traffic, hiding data that is usually transmitted over an Internet connection. This method is increasingly used for monitoring user actions, as well as for total surveillance.

How to protect yourself from cyber attacks?

Unfortunately, the number of cyber threats is growing exponentially. Not everyone can prepare for them. So, the specialists in this field have developed a special formula. It can help to prioritize the necessary efforts in case of suspected cyber threats. It allows you to focus on the main methods of data protection. This formula looks like this:

Risk = Probability + Impact

The first thing to pay attention to is the probability of a cyber threat. How easy is it for hackers to carry out an attack? Then, you should analyze how much you can mitigate or eliminate the risk.

Then, you need to consider the impact of the threat. How is valuable and confidential the data, and what are the consequences of the attack?

As a result, by combining probability and impact, we get a possible risk. Based on this data, we can prevent a potential threat in advance.

Let’s look at this model using Utopia p2p network ecosystem as Privacy Tools.

1. What is the probability that you might be exposed to a hacker attack if you use a Utopia?

First of all, Utopia is a closed decentralized ecosystem, which is free from censorship and an anonymous Internet platform. Thus, we exclude the first and third types of cyber threats, namely malware and the person in the middle.

In addition, Utopia is built on the principle of a peer-to-peer architecture that does not use a single server to store user data. It means that if there is no single server, there is less risk of leaks or hacking. Instead, a user is both a server and a client.  Therefore, we can exclude such a type as SQL-injection.

All information is stored on an individual server, which is accessed by a private key. The ecosystem generates this key at the stage of anonymous registration in the ecosystem. Since registration and use are anonymous, the hacker will not be able to get any information about the potential victim. We can safely exclude Phishing.

For protecting and storage data, Utopia uses complex multi-level encryption based on a high-speed Elliptic Curve25519 and 256-bit AES. In other words, all the user’s movements and actions are protected, and access to them is restricted. Thanks to this encryption, we can exclude Denial of service attack.

Utopia does not use the usual DNS. Instead, it created its alternative – uNS. Now, everything you need is already created in the ecosystem, and users do not need to leave the ecosystem and leave traces on third-party and unsafe sites. This method excludes DNS tunneling cyber threat.

2. What is the impact of cyber threats?

Based on the data that we have considered in the first paragraph, we can exclude the consequences – the threat is 99.9% impossible.

However, let’s resolve the last 0,1% and look at the functional tools of Utopia.

• uMessenger is an encrypted instant messenger. It transfers quick messages between users. There is a function for creating a secret chat. All correspondence is available only to two users – the sender and the recipient.

• uMail is an alternative file sharing service. It is responsible for transferring confidential files and documents between companies. Every message is encrypted. A unique key that only the sender and recipient have will help you decrypt it.

• Idyll Browser – anonymous browser. It allows you to freely and privately visit any sites. It doesn’t track users’ movements. Besides, a unique tunnel data technology allows you to add sites to each user. Access to them will be open to other clients of the ecosystem.

• uWallet – crypto wallet of the ecosystem. It is responsible for the financial component of the ecosystem. You can perform any financial transactions within the ecosystem using cryptons – special cryptocurrency. There is no need to enter Bank card details, passwords, or other confidential information.

Thus, all user data in one way or another remains there and is not accessible to outsiders.

3. What are the risks?

You don’t need to be a math guru to predict the possible risks of cyber threats when using Utopia. However, here is the result we got, according to the formula:

0% = peer-to-peer network and elliptic Curve25519 and 256-bit AES + uMail, uMessenger, Idyll Browser, uWallet

Is it enough reason for trust?

Conclusion

In a fast-changing world, only one thing remains unchanged – threats. With the passage of time and the progress of humankind, risks were modified and passed into new forms.

The main threat of the 21st century is the cyber threat. Therefore, you should think about your safety now.