Cybersecurity is an area of technology that aims to protect systems and data from attacks, thefts, breaches, and disruptions. It uses tools that create firewalls, identify malware, and manage user access to systems. In a business environment, it includes policies and procedures that ensure employees follow cybersecurity best practices.
Cyberattacks can be directed at stealing intellectual property, manipulating data, or even destroying it. For example, a ransomware attack encrypts a victim’s data and demands a ransom payment to regain access. These types of attacks are on the rise, and they can cause monetary losses and damage an organization’s reputation.
Other cyberattacks are more subtle. Password attacks involve hackers guessing or “brute forcing” a password by trying various combinations until they succeed, while Internet of Things (IoT) attacks exploit vulnerabilities in devices like smart home gadgets and industrial control systems to take over the device and steal data or use it as part of a botnet. Other malicious actions include a Man in the Middle attack, which intercepts and possibly alters communications between two parties who believe they’re communicating directly with each other.
The most serious threats are from nation-state hackers. Russia is thought to be behind several high-profile hacks of U.S. political entities, while China is pursuing its own economic interests by stealing commercial intellectual property. North Korea, meanwhile, has been responsible for massive cyberattacks that have included the loss of terabytes of data from Sony Entertainment over a film that depicted the country in a negative light.
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