Types of security threats

Types of security threats

1. 
   Malware
   
2. 
   Cloud security
   
3. 
   Phishing
   
4. 
   Ransomware
   
5. 
   Data loss
   
6. 
   Password attacks
   
7. 
   Insider threats
   
8. 
   DDoS
   
9. 
   Network vulnerabilities
   
10. 
    Formjacking
    

Here are ten of the most common issues, and what to do about them.
1. Malware (including fileless malware)
Perhaps the most basic and familiar threat to many users, malware covers a wide range of unwanted programs that can cause any number of issues for a business, from destroying data to sapping resources by turning machines into botnets or cryptocurrency miners.
In 2021, over five billion malware attacks were logged by SonicWall, with the overall number of attacks rising by a whopping 232% since 2019. In fact, 64% of IT leaders cited malware as the biggest security challenge they’re facing this year.
There are a few key categories, such as viruses, which seek to replicate and spread as widely as possible, Trojans, which gain entry to networks by disguising themselves as legitimate applications, and spyware, which looks to monitor an employee's usage to gather sensitive data.
But it’s important to be aware of other types of threat such as fileless malware which infects devices through legitimate software and leaves no footprint. Unlike regular malware, fileless malware can be installed on a system without needing an attacker to install it, which makes it notoriously difficult to detect. 
Protecting against malware
Defending against these multitude of threats is no easy task, which is why having strong antimalware tools is paramount. There are hundreds of tools out there claiming to offer protection, but organizations need to ensure the solutions they choose can detect even previously unknown malware by spotting their key characteristics - for example, a program that tries to hide once installed. It's also essential this is kept up to date and is able to scan every potential entry point to a network, from emails to USB flash drives.
2. Cloud security
The majority of businesses, both small and large, work in the cloud. From reduced IT costs to improved scalability and easier collaboration - there are plenty of reasons most modern organizations rely on cloud computing. However, it’s not without its own set of challenges.
Cloud security is one of the main cybersecurity threats businesses are facing this year, with 57% agreeing that it’s the most significant threat after malware. Some of the main concerns businesses must be aware of when it comes to cloud security include account hijacking, misconfigurations, external data sharing, data loss/leakage, unauthorized access and insecure interfaces/APIs. For more insights, access the State of Cloud Security report here.