The digital world is full of opportunities and resources, but it is also home to countless cybercriminals looking to steal your data and cause havoc on your devices. To make matters worse, the Covid-19 pandemic has increased cybercrime by 600%.
We're only halfway through the year 2021, and already several massive cyber attacks have made headlines. Here are the top five major cyber attacks of 2021 that have occurred so far, as well as three effective measures you can take to protect yourself from such attacks.
Cybersecurity. Licence: CC0
Licence: CC0
The Top Five Major Cyber Attacks of 2021 So Far
1- CNA Financial
CNA Financial, one of the largest cyber insurance firms in the United States, was hit by a ransomware attack on March 21, 2021. CNA's customer and employee services were disrupted for three days due to the cyberattack, as the company was forced to shut down to prevent further compromise. The cyberattack made use of a new version of the Phoenix CryptoLocker malware, a type of ransomware.
2 - Microsoft Exchange
Millions of Microsoft customers worldwide were affected by a massive cyberattack in which a Chinese cyber-espionage unit actively exploited four vulnerabilities in Microsoft's Exchange Server.
More than 30,000 organisations in the United States alone are estimated to have been affected by the attack, including a significant number of small businesses, towns, cities, and local governments.
3 - Channel Nine
On March 28, 2021, the Australian broadcaster Channel Nine was hit by a cyberattack, which prevented the channel from airing its Sunday news and several other shows.
Because of the lack of internet access at Channel Nine's headquarters, the attack also disrupted operations at the network's publishing business, as some of the publishing tools were also unavailable.
4 - Harris Federation
In March 2021, the Harris Federation was the target of a ransomware attack. The attackers encrypted all of the data on the servers and would only release it in exchange for a ransom, forcing the organization to disable the devices and email systems of all 50 secondary and primary academies it manages. As a result, over 37,000 students were unable to access their coursework or correspondence.
5 - Acer
Acer, one of the world's most recognizable computer companies, was the victim of a ransomware attack and was demanded to pay a ransom of $50 million, setting the record for the largest known ransom to date.
The attack was carried out by a cybercriminal organization known as REvil. The cybercriminals also announced the breach on their website where they published images of the stolen data.
3 Effective Measures to Protect Yourself From Cybercriminals
1 - Invest in an Antivirus Software
While antivirus software is not a complete cybersecurity solution, it will protect you from many of today's online threats.
When compared to the cost of dealing with a data breach, antivirus software is relatively cheap. If you want to protect yourself and your company from the devastating effects of malware and viruses, investing in a business-grade antivirus solution is a great place to start.
When you get antivirus software, make sure you update it on a regular basis because they tend to update their databases against newer viruses. Also, make sure to schedule frequent scans, at least once a week.
2 - Use a VPN Software
A VPN can protect you from cyber threats in a variety of ways, including encrypting your traffic. A VPN, or virtual private network, is a secure tunnel that connects your computer to a network, usually a public one. All of your data, as well as your online activity, is encrypted from the moment you enter the tunnel to keep it safe from prying eyes.
A VPN will also hide your IP address, which would otherwise reveal your location and ISP. It routes your connection through a secure server and changes your IP address, effectively concealing your location. So, make sure to get a VPN to improve your security against cyberattacks.
3 - Secure Your Passwords
Passwords serve as your first line of defence against cyberattacks on your devices and personal information. The more secure your password, the more protection you will gain against hackers and malicious software. Strong passwords should be used for all of your accounts, especially business accounts.
You can strengthen your passwords by making them longer, typically more than 8 characters long, with a mix of numbers, different cases, and symbols. Also, avoid using recognisable words, dates, or number sequences. You can use a password security checker to determine how secure your password is.
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