Nearly 70% of all business leaders have reported they feel their cybersecurity risks are increasing with each passing year.
And they’d be right. Since the onset of the pandemic, cyber crime rates worldwide have quadrupled. SMBs are hit by successful cyber attacks almost every 39 seconds, and if you own a business, it’s practically a guarantee that you will be hit by an attack at some point.
One particular type of cyber crime small and medium sized businesses should be aware of is called cyber vandalism.
But what is cyber vandalism? How does it differ from other types of cyber crime? And more importantly, how do businesses protect themselves from this unique type of digital destruction?
In this blog we’re going to cover all of that and more as we take a deep dive into the world of cyber vandalism.
We’re going to explain what cyber vandalism is, all the various types and what you can do as a business owner to protect your own and your customers’ data.
What is Cybervandalism: Intended Effects & Perpetrators
To best describe the cyber vandalism definition (data vandalism definition, if you prefer that term) it is a type of cyber crime where the sole purpose is to cause damage or disruption, with no monetary gain as the end goal.
The effects of cyber vandalism can be significant and long-lasting. For example, a hospital that has its computer systems brought down by a denial of service attack could see vital operations postponed or cancelled, leading to patient deaths.
In other cases, like when website defacements occur, the effect is more psychological than anything else. The business whose website has been vandalized will suffer from reputational damage, which can lead to lost customers and revenue.
Who perpetrates these types of attacks? In most cases it’s individuals or groups who have some kind of grudge against the business or organization they’re targeting.
They could be disgruntled employees, former customers with a vendetta, or even complete strangers who have nothing better to do than cause trouble.
Whatever their motivation, one thing is for sure – cyber vandalism is on the rise and businesses need to be prepared. So what are some of the most common types of cyber attacks? Let’s take a look.
Types of Cyber Vandalism Attacks: An Overview
There are many different types of cyber vandalism attacks, each with its own unique goals and methods. Here are some of the most common:
Website Defacement
This is where attackers gain access to a website and replace its content with something else, usually offensive or inflammatory.
DDoS Attacks
A distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack is where attackers flood a server with requests, overwhelming it and causing it to crash.
Malware Attacks
In this type of attack, malware is injected into a system in order to cause damage or disruption.
Ransomware Attacks
This is where attackers encrypt a system’s files and demand a ransom be paid in order to decrypt them.
Social Media Attacks
This is where attackers gain access to a business’s social media accounts and use them to spread misinformation or post offensive content.
As mentioned before, the effects of these attacks can be significant, so it’s important for businesses to know how to protect themselves.
How to Protect Against Cyber Vandalism Attacks
There are many steps businesses can take to protect themselves against electronic vandalism attacks. Some of the most important include:
Keep Software & Systems Up to Date
This might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to make sure all software and systems are up to date with the latest security patches.
Educate Employees
Employees should be trained on cybersecurity best practices, including how to spot and report suspicious activity.
| Learn More About How Cyber Security Can Protect Your Business from Online Threats with These Other Short Articles: |
Use Strong Passwords
All passwords should be long, complex and unique, and never reused across different accounts.
Enable Two-Factor Authentication
This adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to confirm their identity with a code or token before being granted access.
Backup Data Regularly
This is important in case of any type of cyber attack, as it provides a way to restore lost or corrupted data.
These are just some of the ways businesses can protect themselves against computer vandalism. By taking these steps and others, businesses can help reduce the risk of becoming a victim of this type of attack.
Enlisting the Help of a Managed Service Provider to Protect Against Cyber Vandalism
In conclusion, cyber vandalism is a serious problem that businesses need to be aware of.
There are many different types of attacks, each with its own unique goals and methods. The effects of these attacks can be significant, so it’s important for businesses to know how to protect themselves. And one of the best ways to protect yourself is by getting help from a qualified managed IT service provider, like Fusion Computing.
At Fusion Computing, we offer advanced security services including:
- Network Monitoring & Maintenance
- Data Breach Resolution
- Cyber Security Consulting
- Disaster Recovery Planning & Implementation
- Firewall Management
- Antivirus Implementation, Patching and Upgrades
If you’d like to learn more about how we can protect your business’ data from all cyber threats, including cyber vandalism, schedule a free consultation with us today.
