Let’s see What Is Cyber Vandalism And How To Prevent It:
Whenever you run a business, you also try to solve the problems it faces. If your business is online then add one more name to the list of problems which you should try to keep away – cyber crime and cyber vandalism.
Cyber crime and cyber vandalism sound similar but there is a slight difference between the two. Every 32 seconds someone somewhere becomes a victim of online cyber crime and this happens approximately 2244 times a day.
These incidents of cyber crime also consist of some incidents of Cyber Vandalism. Let us see what cyber vandalism is and how it is different from cyber crime.
Cyber vandalism is also a form of cyber crime in which generally cyber crime is not done for any monetary gain but out of some sense of vengeance, or for mischief or by hackers to show their power.
This is a type of cyber crime in which a person’s or a business’s website or software is hacked and data is stolen. Although the hackers may not necessarily gain any monetary benefit from this, the victim may suffer financial or reputational harm.
The Perpetrators of Electronic Vandalism
Electronic vandalism or cyber vandalism is mainly done by cyber criminals who want to take revenge from some institution or may be an angry customer or may be some mischievous person who is doing this only for his entertainment.
The incidence of cyber vandalism has increased significantly in recent times, so it is very important to remain alert and try to stay away from it.
Types of Cyber Vandalism:
Website Defacement:
This is a common cyber attack. In this vandalism, your website is hacked and by changing its content, hackers can display their own messages thereon.This is either done by hackers for fun or prank or it can also be politically motivated.
Distributed Denial of Service Attack (DDoS):
DDoS attacks are popular tactics used by cyber criminals to flood traffic on a target system or network using already compromised systems, rendering the target system or network inaccessible to legitimate users. This may be considered as a traffic jam on the target and its resources cannot be utilized by legitimate users.This is very dangerous and cyber security will have to be very robust to stop it.
By 2022, there has been a 150% increase and an average of 29.3 attacks are taking place per day.
Malware Distribution Vendalism:
Malware is the short form of malicious software. This is a very old but effective method of cyber crime or cyber vandalism. In this, the victim is asked to click on some links or on the pretext of downloading some software, malware is installed in his system due to which the victim’s system gets compromised.
Malware can be of many types which can include virus, ransomware, trojan, worm etc.
Social Media Vandalism:
In this, your social media account is hacked and it can be misused by hackers to cause financial or reputational harm to you.
Botnets:
A botnet is a collection of systems that have already been compromised and taken control of by cyber criminals. By using them, cyber criminals can commit DDoS, data theft, sending large amounts of spamming emails etc. like cybercrime or cyber vandalism.
Identity Theft:
In this tactic, hackers steal your personal data, bank account information etc. and they can empty your bank accounts using your financial information. By pretending to be a victim, hackers can cause the victim financial, reputational and emotional harm.
Phishing Attack:
In phishing vandalism, cyber criminals steal your precious data by using links, messages or fake websites and misuse it to cause financial and reputational loss.
Data Breaches:
When cyber attackers hack the victim’s database and use it, it is called a data breach. This is very dangerous. Cyber criminals can sell your compromised data on the dark web which can cause huge losses to you.
Online Harassment and Trolling:
In this cyber vandalism, you are stalked or trolled online in some way so that you can succumb to the cyber criminal’s demands and do whatever they want.
Nowadays, a new type of cybercrime namely Digital Arrest has also been used in which you are threatened and arrested digitally and a ransom is demanded.
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Insider Threats:
Insider threats occur when employees of a company abuse their access or privileges with the intent to cause harm to the company, steal confidential information, or jeopardize its security.
Search engines help users in the digital world by placing trusted sources higher in their search results, giving them access to knowledge about preventing and mitigating insider threats.
Since insider threats can seriously impact data integrity and business operations, it is important for organizations to take strong security measures and train employees to recognize and respond to them.
Cyber Vandalism using AI or Machine Learning:
This is a new type of cyber vandalism. Deepfake and ClearFake tactics of cyber crime fall in this category.
Impact of Cyber Vandalism:
- Financial Loss: Due to a number of factors, including theft, fraud, and ransom payments, vandalism can cause serious financial setbacks for both individuals and businesses. Cybercriminals can use sensitive information they have harmed by breaching security measures to steal money or demand ransom, which can result in significant financial losses.
- Threats to National Security: Cyber vandalism can develop into state-sponsored attacks that surpass the scope of individual targets and endanger national security. Cybercriminals breach government networks and intelligence through these attacks, with the potential to steal confidential information or compromise critical infrastructure. Robust cybersecurity protocols and continuous surveillance are necessary to safeguard against the extensive consequences of said cyberattacks.
- Legal Consequences: If proven guilty of this crime, vandals may be subject to fines and even jail time. Vandals may have to pay for the cost of repairing or replacing the items they damaged in addition to facing legal repercussions. Vandalism can also have a wider social impact, harming community cohesion and trust while costing local governments and property owners money.
- Privacy Violations: Cyber vandalism has the ability to violate people’s privacy by revealing personal information and interfering inappropriately in their daily lives. By disclosing sensitive information, like financial or personal addresses, these breaches put people at risk of identity theft, harassment, and other forms of cyber abuse. The importance of maintaining one’s privacy emphasizes the necessity of robust cybersecurity measures and appropriate online behavior to prevent such infractions.
- Infrastructure Damage: Cyber vandalism can lead to assaults on vital infrastructure, like power grids or transportation networks, which could disrupt life-supporting services and endanger public safety. These attacks could have a huge impact on a lot of people’s daily lives because they could result in widespread power outages, transportation difficulties, and other problems. Safeguarding our vital infrastructure against cyberattacks is a national priority.
How To Prevent Cyber Vandalism:
- Stay informed and updated: It is important to stay updated on the latest cybersecurity risks and trends. Your first line of defense is awareness. Read cyber security news frequently to stay aware of any upcoming threats. Being informed about new risks can help you adjust and better secure your online presence.
- Strong passwords and 2FA (two-factor authentication): Make sure the passwords you use for your online accounts are secure, unique, and frequently updated. Where it’s available, turn on two-factor authentication (2FA) to increase security. It’s more difficult for online fraudsters to access your accounts without your consent when you use strong passwords that are updated frequently and two-factor authentication.
- Firewall and antivirus software: A firewall and reliable antivirus software should be installed on your device. These tools add another layer of security by being able to detect and prevent malicious behavior. Your devices are protected from online threats by firewalls and antivirus software, which acts as a digital guard.
- Avoid phishing: Beware of unwanted emails, messages or links. Phishing is a tactic that cyber terrorists often use. Learning to recognize phishing attempts is necessary to avoid deceptive schemes.
- Regular backups on safe devices: Create regular backups of your important data on an external drive or cloud service. Keeping backups ensures that you will not lose important data in the event of a cyber attack. Regular backups provide a safety net by enabling you to restore your data even in the worst case scenario.
That’s all for now my friend! I hope this article will be valuable for you. You can reach me through the emails given below. I will love your valuable comments and feedback.
Yours
Abhijit Ranjan
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