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Cyber security is the protection of systems, networks, and data from digital attacks.

The information I will share here will be on basic measures to protect yourself in the digital space. I will make this post basic, so those who know nothing about this topic will grasp it. This post is an introductory post.

A good number of people know the simplified meaning of cybersecurity but do not know any other thing about it. It is a broad subject so this post is more like an introduction. Let us hop right in.

Cyber security helps protect against cyber attacks. It has different layers used to fight cyber attacks and protect people and organizations in cyber space. They are network security, cloud security, application security, information/data security, end-user education, and more.

A few days ago, someone shared a phishing (fraudulent) link on a WhatsApp group I belonged to; I informed the group members that it was fraudulent, to prevent them from clicking it.

There are different methods by which attackers can infiltrate your network, data, or machine in cyberspace.

Here Are Some Methods By Which Cyber Attackers Can Infiltrate Your Device And Network:
Phishing is a method cyber criminals use to steal your personal information through a link or attachment. When a potential victim clicks the link or downloads the attachment, malware gets installed in the devices and steals your information like credit card details, login details, and other personal information.

Social engineering is an act whereby the attacker manipulates you into divulging personal information for fraud.
Malware: is a collective name for a file, code, or software created to cause damage to your site. It comes in different forms; viruses, adware, ransomware, spyware, worms, Trojan horse, and many more.

Denial of Service (DOS): This is when an attacker disrupts a network service or/and shuts down your machine. The attacker does this by overloading your device with data, causing a disruption.

Distributed Denial of Service (DDOS): This is the method by which an attacker overloads a victim’s machine with data from multiple places at a time to disrupt the network or/and crash it. Just like DOS, this leads to network unavailability and machine.

SEO poisoning: It has to do with making sites that contain malware appear during a Google search. Cybercriminals infuse such sites with trending words so that these sites appear on top, leading potential victims to click on them. This will enable attackers to steal sensitive information from the victims or store malware in their devices for fraudulent purposes.

Should Cyber Security Be Your Concern?
Yes. People, Organisations, and the Government should be concerned about cybersecurity.
Many people think that being inactive on social media or not using the internet often means they do not have an online presence. Let me inform you that if you use the internet, even for the littlest thing, you got an online identity.
A cyber attack can affect your gadgets, networks, internet, and data. In this era, it is hard to see anyone, including children who do not use a device that connects online or whose information is not somewhere on the internet.

How Do You Protect Yourself In Cyberspace?

1. Be careful of the information you share with strangers online. Attackers can use certain information about you to defraud you.
2. Turn off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi when not in use.
3. Download apps and software from trusted sources. Do not download any of these from unreliable sources.
4. Do not click on random links or suspicious links.
5. Do not download attachments or files from unknown sources.
6. Use passwords to protect sensitive data on your gadgets so that you do not have anyone snooping in.
7. Use strong passwords on your gadgets. Do not use passwords that are so easy and weak.
8. Use good password managers.
9. Ensure you use two-factor or multi-factor authentication for apps and sites that have it.
10. Back up your sensitive and relevant data on drives and clouds.
11. Update your phone or laptop when there is a new update because sometimes upgraded security patches come with the updates. Also, update your software and apps.

Can You Still Get Cyber-attacked After Taking Precautionary Measures?
Yes. Anyone can get attacked in cyberspace even after taking precautions while using the internet because cyber criminals are always looking for new ways to cause harm, so enlightening yourself on at least the basics of cybersecurity will reduce the chances of such happening to you.

As time goes by, I will make several posts to break down different aspects of cybersecurity for you to understand so you can protect yourselves while using the internet.

Cheers✌🏾

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P.S: This is a slightly modified version of a post I made months ago on my former blog (mschineme.com). I no longer have access to the site.