I am writing today because I have seen that hacking attempts have nearly tripled since the attack in the Middle East this past week. We have also received reports that there is an increase in cyber-attacks against US Government entities and United States Power Utility Companies. So, I am writing you today to not alarm you but to make sure that you stay observant to what is going on around you and on your computer.
In an effort further enhance your cyber defenses, I wanted to highlight a few common cyber-attack that everyone should be aware of – ransomware, phishing and whaling.
- Ransomware is increasingly being used by hackers to extort money from companies . Ransomware is a type of malicious software that takes over your computer and prevents you from accessing files until you pay a ransom.
- Phishing is the most common type of cyber-attack that affects all of us today. Phishing attacks can take many forms, but they all share a common goal – getting you to share sensitive information such as login credentials, credit card information, or bank account details.
- Whaling is a type of scam aimed at getting an individual to transfer money or send sensitive information to a hacker acting as a trusted source via email. Whaling is extremely easy to fall for and can result in significant financial losses.
As always keep your passwords secret and make sure they are secure (ie. not Password1).
