Cybersecurity: Learn How to Prevent and Respond to Cyberattacks on Your PC, TV, and Other

By Lena Neill

Cybersecurity is a vital skill in the modern world, as we rely on various devices and networks to store and access our data. However, cybercriminals are constantly looking for ways to exploit our data for their own gain, using sophisticated techniques and tools. How can we protect ourselves and our businesses from these online threats?

This book will teach you everything you need to know about cybersecurity, from the basics to the advanced topics. You will learn about the common types of cyberattacks, such as phishing, ransomware, malware, and denial-of-service, and how to prevent and respond to them. You will also learn how to improve your security posture, by enhancing your physical security, securing your small business, and understanding the global implications of cyberwar. Additionally, you will learn how to use ethical hacking to test your own security, and how to avoid the common mistakes made in cybersecurity. Finally, you will learn about the economic impact of cybersecurity, and how it affects individuals, businesses, and nations.

This book is for anyone who wants to learn how to secure their data from hackers, whether they use a PC, a TV, or any other device. You don't need any prior knowledge of cybersecurity, as the book will explain everything in a clear and simple way. By the end of this book, you will have a solid foundation of cybersecurity, and be able to apply it to your own situation

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lena Neill
• Release date: Feb 27, 2024
• ISBN: 9798223457121

Book preview

Introduction

Co,mputer techno,lo,gy has evo,lved in unimaginable so,phisticatio,n and inno,vatio,n ever since its inceptio,n. the majo,rity o,f the advancements, reach, and the po,wer o,f the internet has aided the po,pularity o,f info,rmatio,n techno,lo,gy. to,day, almo,st any industry o,r individual uses co,mputer systems and netwo,rks fo,r so,me purpo,se o,r ano,ther.

The measures that are taken to, pro,tect co,mputer systems, netwo,rks and devices against cyber-attacks are catego,rized as cybersecurity. altho,ugh co,mputer techno,lo,gy has evo,lved leaps and bo,unds, the same can't be said abo,ut cybersecurity.

Cyber-attacks have beco,me increasingly co,mplex and deceptive, with highly skilled cyber-criminals dedicating eno,rmo,us amo,unts o,f time, reso,urces, and energy into, launching serio,us cyber-attacks. ho,wever, the means fo,r pro,tecting individuals and o,rganizatio,ns fro,m such attacks have been slo,w to, catch up.

Vario,us security measures are discussed at length, including the pro,per use o,f passwo,rds and pins, creating ro,utine back-ups, practicing cautio,n when co,nnecting to, public netwo,rks, and much mo,re. the discussio,n also, includes ho,w to, put tho,se co,untermeasures into, effect witho,ut affecting o,ne's lifestyle, pro,ductivity, and budget.

The internet has changed the way co,mpanies do, business. co,mputers and netwo,rks have changed many pro,cesses o,f businesses fro,m manufacturing, o,peratio,ns, co,mmunicatio,ns to, finance, distributio,n, marketing, and custo,mer service. it is co,mmo,n to, find the presence o,f the use o,f co,mputer systems and the internet in almo,st all pro,cesses related to, businesses in o,ne way o,r ano,ther.

The advancements in co,mputer techno,lo,gy, cheaper hardware, and the po,pularity o,f the internet have paved the way fo,r the next big thing in techno,lo,gy: the internet o,f things. o,bjects that used to, be dumb and needed human interventio,n have been made smart by giving such o,bjects the ability to, co,llect and transmit data and respo,nd to, remo,te co,mmands.

The internet o,f things is predicted to, co,ntinue to, gro,w rapidly while changing the daily lives o,f humans and the o,peratio,ns o,f businesses.

Io,t devices co,nnect to, the internet to, perfo,rm their duties. as a result, they have been targeted by cyber-attacks with varying mo,tives. the fact that io,t is a relatively no,vel techno,lo,gy means that io,t devices are yet to, be equipped with cybersecurity measures that co,mputers feature. furthermo,re, io,t devices are used to, carry o,ut demanding duties, including access co,ntro,l and aiding in healthcare.

What is cyber security?

The pro,tectio,n o,f a co,mputer system o,r netwo,rk fro,m the adverse effects such as theft o,r damages to, the co,mputer hardware, so,ftware, data, o,r the services pro,vided by tho,se elements is kno,wn as cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity is also, kno,wn as co,mputer security and it security (info,rmatio,n techno,lo,gy security). the field o,f cybersecurity has fast evo,lved o,ver the years due to, the rapid increase in the use and reliance o,n the internet, co,mputers, and wireless netwo,rks.

The use o,f devices that are also, pro,ne to, cyber-attacks such as smart mo,bile pho,nes, smart televisio,ns, and devices falling under the catego,ry o,f the internet o,f things (io,t) has also, co,ntributed to, the need fo,r the rapid evo,lutio,n o,f cybersecurity. the techno,lo,gy and po,litics that surro,und the use o,f the internet, co,mputers, netwo,rks, and smart devices are co,mplex that po,se many challenges to, the wo,rld o,f cybersecurity.

Due to, the fast-changing nature o,f techno,lo,gy and o,ther facto,rs, cybersecurity is always evo,lving. cybersecurity appro,aches, to,o,ls, risk management metho,ds, techno,lo,gies, best practices, and training are always changing as a result. threats to, cybersecurity also, advance with the evo,lutio,n o,f techno,lo,gy and the use o,f devices, so,ftware, and netwo,rks that are pro,ne to, tho,se threats. many o,rganizatio,ns and even individuals put high levels o,f emphasis o,n cybersecurity to, pro,tect their valuable hardware, so,ftware, data, services, and o,rganizatio,nal o,bjectives.

Cybersecurity has been a huge fo,cus fo,r businesses due to, the risk o,f data breaches that can cripple them in many ways. such breaches o,ften lead to, the lo,ss o,f highly sensitive data that co,sts co,mpanies their revenues, co,mpetitive advantage, reputatio,n, and co,nsumer trust. a data breach is estimated to, co,st a co,mpany aro,und 3.6 millio,n, making cybersecurity a high prio,rity fo,r any business.

Cyber attacks and vulnerabilities

A weakness in the design, implementatio,n, internal co,ntro,l, o,r the o,peratio,ns o,f a co,mputer, hardware, smart device, so,ftware, o,r a netwo,rk results in the expo,sure to, cyber-attacks. the co,mmo,n vulnerabilities and expo,sures is a database that do,cuments such kno,wn vulnerabilities to, cyber threats. at least o,ne active attack o,r an explo,it that exists is called an explo,itable vulnerability. vario,us manual and auto,mated to,o,ls are used to, identify vulnerabilities to, cyber-attacks.

When it co,mes to, co,mputers and netwo,rks, attacks largely attempt to, expo,se, disable, alter, steal, destro,y, o,r gain access to, the use o,f assets. any such o,ffensive maneuver that tries to, target co,mputer systems, netwo,rks, infrastructures, and perso,nal devices can be called a cyber-attack. a cyber- attack can be carried o,ut by an individual o,r a gro,up with malicio,us intent putting hardware, data, and functio,nalities at risk.

Cyber-attacks can be catego,rized as cyber warfare o,r cyberterro,rism, depending o,n the nature o,f the attack and its threat. furthermo,re, cyber- attacks can be carried o,ut by vario,us so,cieties and so,vereign states o,perating in ano,nymity. during a cyberattack, susceptible systems and devices are hacked into, while achieving the malicio,us intents o,f the attacker o,r the attackers. the scale o,f a cyberattack may also, vary fro,m a single co,mputer, device, individual, o,r co,mpany is the primary target to, infrastructures o,f entire natio,ns.

Info,rmatio,n security culture

The behavio,r o,f emplo,yees plays a key ro,le in establishing cybersecurity in co,mpanies. changes and impro,vements o,f a co,mpany's culture and practices can help emplo,yees effectively wo,rk to,wards achieving info,rmatio,n security. emplo,yees so,metimes do, no,t realize that they are an integral part o,f a co,mpany's effo,rt to,wards achieving satisfacto,ry levels o,f cybersecurity. their actio,ns may so,metimes no,t align with the cybersecurity go,als o,f a co,mpany as a result.

A co,mpany sho,uld co,ntinuo,usly make impro,vements to, its info,rmatio,n security culture while making sure that emplo,yees understand the ro,le they need to, play. the pro,cess is never-ending with an o,ngo,ing cycle o,f change, evaluatio,n, and