A cyber threat is an attempt to gain unauthorized access to or cause damage to information systems. These malicious activities can impact organizational functions, reputation and image. They can also steal data, disrupt operations and even take down an entire business. Cyberattacks often take advantage of vulnerabilities that arise due to rapid technological growth, poor configuration or human error.
A variety of threat sources can launch cyber attacks, including nation states and their proxies, transnational criminal organizations and individual hackers. They seek to steal intellectual property and innovation, conduct espionage, and threaten our democratic institutions.
Some common cyberattacks include phishing, ransomware, man in the middle (MitM) attacks and denial of service attacks. Attackers can use a number of techniques to disguise their attacks, such as DNS spoofing (spoofing the Domain Name Server to pose as a legitimate website) and IP spoofing (spoofing an internet protocol address to impersonate a safe site).
The threat landscape is constantly evolving, as attackers and cybersecurity teams both seek ways to breach and defend information systems. Fortunately, there are many tools to help prevent and detect cyberattacks, including firewalls, reliable antivirus software, consistent data backup and more. It’s important for stakeholders to understand the threat landscape to ensure their business is protected.