3 Ways That Cyber Security Handles Threats

Cybersecurity is a concern for many. In the digital age, people spend so much time online for work, entertainment, and more that one can feel a mounting tension. Hackers are out there developing new methods of getting your data and the tech with which to do it, and that can create an environment of fear for the average internet user. However, cybersecurity experts and professionals are likewise constantly developing new strategies and tools with which to counter hackers in order to protect consumers and businesses alike. Here are a few ways in which cybersecurity operates in order to protect your data.

Network Monitoring

Online activity is typically segregated into networks, and networks are often the focus of cybersecurity for that reason. They say that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and it’s that mentality that governs network monitoring. IP Flow Information Export, also known as IPFIX, is a method of networking monitoring that tracks the relative location of a user by tracking that user’s IP address.

An IP address is a string of numbers that acts as an ID of sorts for a given device, and following the paper trail of an IP address can, upon closer inspection, offer an insight into the potentially suspicious activity that can give away nefarious acts. For instance, tracking an IP address’s action can be an effective method of finding an otherwise unexplained user on a network and can potentially indicate a potential threat.

DDoS Prevention

DDoS attacks, otherwise known as Distributed Denial of Service, are not an incredibly common method of cyber attack, but the effects of these attacks have historically been difficult to predict and combat. Notably, tracking IP addresses is actually antithetical to fighting this kind of attack, as the attack functions by simulating high traffic to an online destination by hijacking many devices and therefore appears to be coming from a variety of IP addresses simultaneously. The reason it’s not a more common tactic is that it is difficult to coordinate.

DDoS attacks hinge on infecting several devices with malware by which hackers can gain control of these devices. Then, by using the infected devices to flood the network with fraudulent requests, a successful DDoS attack can crash the network in question. However, DDoS prevention tools have been developed in order to combat this by scanning all incoming requests in order to preemptively remove suspicious requests that seem to fit this model of attack.

Antimalware Software

Malware refers to any software that seeks to disrupt the operation of your device, and viruses are just one type of malware. While some malware is equivalent to a prank and seeks only to stroke the ego of its creator by ruining your day, many instances of malware are intended to provide hackers with access to your device or network, at which point said hacker theoretically has unlimited access to your data, which can be catastrophic. One notable example of this is the trojan, a type of malware that masquerades as a benevolent and often well-known program before giving a hacker direct control over your device. Another example is that of the browser hijacker, a type of malware that replaces your internet browser with a nearly identical duplicate in order to remove essential data protections in order to spread your data freely.

Antimalware software scans downloads and downloaded files in order to root out these unwanted and harmful programs in order to prevent problems with your computer. While malware is designed to be extremely difficult to remove, antimalware software can often catch it before it takes root, and it can otherwise quarantine the files in question in order to prevent widespread infection.

The necessity of cybersecurity is only increasing over time as hackers devise new ways to attack computers and networks. However, cybersecurity has answers to these problems as a result of its own advancements. With the right information in hand, you’re prepared to secure your network in order to keep your data out of the wrong hands.