Cyber threats are malicious actions designed to damage systems, steal sensitive data, or disrupt normal operations. These threats target individuals, organizations, and governments.
Malware is malicious software designed to harm or exploit devices and networks. It includes viruses, worms, ransomware, and spyware.
Example: Ransomware encrypts a user’s files and demands payment to restore access. Malware is often spread through email attachments, downloads, or compromised websites.
Phishing is a social engineering attack where attackers impersonate trusted organizations to trick users into revealing sensitive information such as passwords or credit card details.
Example: A fake email claiming to be from a bank asking users to “verify their account” by clicking a malicious link.
A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack overwhelms a server or network with excessive traffic, causing it to slow down or crash.
Example: Attackers use botnets (infected computers) to flood a website with traffic, making it unavailable to users.
Understanding cyber threats is essential for preventing data breaches, financial loss, and system downtime. Most modern attacks exploit human error as much as technical vulnerabilities.