Network Security

     Understanding the value of your data can be a hard concept to grasp and even harder to protect. The security of every person's data holds their identity and rights to their privileges. If we are lazy about protecting our information, it will get stolen and used without our permission. Not only is it necessary for individuals to protect their data, but companies or organizations need to do so as well. If a company uses digital communication, storage or commerce, security needs to be paramount above most concerns. This post explains the importance of information and system security for organizations and individuals.

A great example of things to avoid is malware and ransomware. These two threats to a computer system can infiltrate your device in many ways such as sketchy emails, suspicious websites and software downloads. If an individual never updates their software as the manufacturer instructs, ransomware can be a formidable threat to even the most popular operating systems. When targeted by these threats, your device will perform poorly, you might lose access to certain data and even experience unexpected crashes. When dealing with ransomware, the perpetrator demands payment to restore access to data that has been locked by the ransomware. Even though you may think this could end up not badly, often the user never gets their access back even after paying the perpetrator. This is why it is imperative to download and install all the software updates that manufacturers provide in a timely manner. On occasion, an update will be made available with cosmetic programs and does not include any security updates, but it is safe to always check and make sure, so you are on the safe side of the conversation. Many organizations combat this by purchasing or subscribing to antivirus or antimalware software to ensure their information is not out in the public domain.

Pharming is another threat that everyone should be aware of. This type of threat commonly redirects popular websites traffic to a fake site that exploits servers and personal computers and captures personal information as users think they are using a trusted website. This leads to users unknowingly entering their financial information and even login information to accounts that can be taken advantage of. This example leads to identity theft, compromised sensitive data and even financial loss. To keep these attacks at bay and outside your network, purchasing a monitoring subscription and updating software regularly will most effectively keep our network out of trouble. Using anti-farming tools can also ensure effective prerequisite security measures.

When we take the time to understand the threats that are trying to sneak in the digital back door, we realize how important it is to keep yourself safe when using the internet. If we become lackadaisical about our network and device security, we will end up as victims of an almost certain unknown crime till it is too late. Information and system security are the most important aspects of network usage. We need to protect ourselves and our organizations by preventing cyberattacks, safeguarding sensitive data, protecting privacy, preserving reputation, and stating within the lines of business regulations. When we understand our weaknesses, we can prepare to keep them shielded. Knowing the damage associated with certain symptoms, we will think twice before clicking on suspicious emails or websites. We can all take part in implementing effective security measures within our own personal network and our professional network. Using relevant security tools, installing regular updates, and teaching individuals effective strategies to avoid threats are our greatest weapons against cyber threats.