An Introductory Guide To Internet Security

In July 2019, online banking giant Capitol One realized that its data had been hacked. Thousands of credit card applications consisting of personal information such as birthdates, physical address and social security numbers were exposed. Although no bank account numbers were stolen, this was enough to shake customers' trust in Capitol One. The fact was that the bank had used AWS (Amazon Web Server) as its cloud computing partner, which made the hack seem more shocking, exposing the vulnerabilities of having your data stored online.

In today’s era, most activities are dependent on the internet. We shop, order food, conduct research, watch movies, pay bills and find how many ants would be needed to match your weight! Yes, the internet can be weird at times but it's also incredibly powerful! However, with great power comes a greater threat. While we store a lot of information about ourselves, including sensitive data on the internet, there is also a possibility of a data breach or stolen identity. Internet Security deals with the dangers of exposing your data and identity online in an unsafe manner.

Statista, the market and consumer data firm, stated in January 2021 that there were 4.66 billion active internet users across the globe! That’s more than half the population of the entire world. With so many users, there are bound to be bad actors and security risks. So, let’s dive deep into the details of Internet Security, its history and evolution, its importance as well as its future.

What Is Internet Security?

 
As per the Mimecast report, a review of 10,072,682 emails revealed 203,000 malicious links pegging the ratio at 1 malicious link for every 50 emails! These links, when clicked, unleash malware that copies all the information within your system, including information on websites that you visit and financial transactions that you have made. Someone out there cannot only steal your identity and money but also commit severe crimes in your name, without you having the slightest clue. Scary, isn’t it?


We use the internet for a variety of reasons. We google stuff, we read the news, we send emails, we socialize on Facebook, post our pictures on Instagram, we buy stuff, indulge in online sales because you can never have enough shoes - so on and so forth. This means that heaps of important and sensitive data are constantly being shared over the internet. Internet Security is the measure that we have in place to ensure that these activities are carried out securely and our online data is protected at every step. Internet Security revolves around fortifying your internet connections, identifying threats and safeguarding your most important and sensitive information from hackers.

We agree that variety is spice of life but variety in Internet Security threats sounds scary and alarming. Let’s look at a few of them in the next section!

What Are The Types Of Internet Security Threats?

 
Although with each passing day newer internet threats are being discovered, we have listed some of the common ones you need to know:
 

• Malware

  Malware stands for Malicious Software. As the name suggests it is a type of rogue virus that replicates itself into the user’s systems and steals valuable information. This can happen when you click on an unsolicited link, download a file containing a virus or use an infected USB drive.

• Ransomware

  A malicious ransomware attack (called CovidLock 2020) was started by hackers to gain mileage from the fear of COVID-19. Emails were sent containing malicious links with the heading “Free COVID testing.” Once clicked, the ransomware encrypted data on Android devices and denied data access to victims. To get access, USD 100 per device was extorted from users.

• Computer Worm

  A computer worm is typically an infected software program that exploits the operating system’s vulnerabilities to spread to other systems via a shared network. Computer worms contain payloads – which are pieces of code written to perform actions on the infected computer, most likely to steal data or delete files.

• Malicious Attachments

  A jilted lover sought to destroy the entire internet with a virus named ILOVEYOU. No, this is not the plot of some dystopian movie! ILOVEYOU was a malicious email attachment that once clicked, stole all the local data. Although the worm was released way back in 2000, it is still remembered as one of the most effective viruses of all time.

• Spam

  Unwanted messages in our inbox are usually referred to as spam or junk mail. Although they look harmless on the surface, certain spam emails containing malicious links might end up in your primary inbox. Clicking these can lead to installation of malicious software on your computer or smartphone.

• Phishing

  One of the most common Internet Security threats, phishing attacks happen when hackers and cyber-baddies create a make-believe website to trick you into believing that it is the genuine one. These cyber-attacks mostly happen with banks, wherein the website is so real that we end up entering our credentials. Most phishing websites use keyloggers that record all the information which is revealed to hackers.In fact, many Netflix users reportedly received emails claiming that their account was suspended and clicking on a link can help restore it. While many desperately clicked on the link not wanting to disrupt binge-watching Money Heist, it was actually their money that was being heisted.

• Adware And Spyware

  Adware is a type of software that is designed to collect information on our browsing habits to display advertisements for products or services that we are likely to purchase. For e.g. While writing this piece, we are conducting research on malware, this might lead to Google showing us more information on anti-malware or anti-virus products. However, adware is installed with your permission​ and you can install pop-up blockers to block out the advertisements. Spyware works similarly, however, it is installed on your system without your consent or knowledge. It stores information such as personally identifiable information (PII), financial details, log-in credentials, etc. creating a high risk for identify theft.

After knowing these Internet Security threats it becomes quite obvious that investing in robust Internet Security suites is important. However, that’s not all – there are more advantages.

Why Is Internet Security So Important?

You may recall watching the 2013 movie “Identity Thief” starring Jason Bateman and Melissa Mcarthy. The movie involved an innocent account executive, Sandy Patterson (Jason), who gives away his social security details along with credit card information over the phone to Diana (Melissa). Jason thinks he is giving out info to a legitimate authority. What happens next is anyone’s guess. Diana wreaks havoc on Sandy’s life, running up huge credit card bills, committing a felony and what not! All the crimes are committed in Sandy’s name until during an arrest, a mugshot is generated which reveals the identity theft. Although the information was given out unknowingly over the phone, the same can be easily replicated through a digital transaction.

SWIFT (Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunications) – a secure messaging service that enables financial transactions between a whopping 11,000 financial institutions in over 200 countries – saw an internet attack that attempted to steal USD 1 billion. The SWIFT network was hacked to fool the US Federal Reserve into transferring the amount to hackers posing as Bangladesh Central Bank. Although the full cyber-attack was thwarted, hackers managed to lay their hands on USD 81 million.

If this could happen to such giants, it can easily happen to anybody. Just like we safeguard our homes with burglar alarms, CCTV cameras and high-powered safety locks, we need to protect ourselves from data theft with appropriate Internet Security measures.

Now the question arises - are Internet Security threats preventable? Well, we're here to help you with that!

Are Internet Security Threats Preventable?

Yes! As the saying goes, prevention is better than cure.  A cure, in this case, could cost serious amounts of money. Each one of us that uses the internet—especially through a Cellular Internet Service Provider—must be vigilant enough to safeguard our data. Our chief weapons in safeguarding our digital data are firewalls, anti-virus software and an operating system that is updated regularly. Apart from these, we must be sure to change passwords from time to time, be vigilant about the stuff that we download, double-check the emails not sent from trusted sources and keep our systems updated from time to time.

However, as the internet grows, so will the complexity of risks. We mean, there will be much more to Internet Security in the future than we can imagine today. Let's explore!

The Future of Internet Security

Internet Security is a vital aspect that guards individuals and organizations from hackers and cyber-criminals. As responsible users, we must be diligent in today’s vulnerable digital landscape and safeguard our digital information. While in the future, automated security protocols and smart security integrations will enable IT teams in maximizing Internet Security. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) will be actively used by businesses to predict and combat cyber-attacks.

Every byte of data about consumers and the business is moving to the cloud. The future of Internet Security will bring more robust solutions to face cloud security issues. Furthermore, consistent innovation in implementing hardware and software solutions like Mcafee Total Protection, Eset Internet Security, Avg Internet Security, Kaspersky Internet Security along with human intervention will bring about more effective ways of monitoring the networks and will pave the way for Internet Security.