Living in a digital world may offer many benefits to many people. For one, it makes everything virtually automated, making lives easier for millions of people. However, digitalisation exposes people to unethical activities online that can cost a lot of money. What makes cyberattacks immensely burdensome is that a lot of people don’t readily know that they have been hacked until it’s too late.

Every year, organisations in Singapore and other parts of the world spend millions of dollars to get back data that has been illegally accessed through ransomware. This is why individuals and enterprises continue to invest a lot of money in cyber security measures to protect themselves from all kinds of fraudulent activities online.

USB port blockers are some of the most popular ways to prevent malware and protect information and other sensitive data. Port blockers act as physical barriers that help prevent dangerous viruses from entering computerised systems via devices.

Corporations and individuals that store vital information on computerised systems are incredibly vulnerable to cyberattacks. If you don’t want to be a victim of such online threats, it will help to equip yourself with knowledge of the different kinds of threats online.

 

• Malware – This is malicious software activated every time a user clicks on a malicious link or attachment, causing a user to unknowingly install dangerous programs on their computer. Examples of malware include ransomware, spyware, worms, and viruses. Once a user unintentionally installs malware, this software will install other harmful applications, block access to critical network components, secretly obtain information by transmitting data from the user’s hard drive, and make the entire system inoperable by disrupting individual parts. What many people may not be aware of is that malware can be injected into a computer system through open ports. In this case, a port blocker can come in handy by providing a visual deterrent to unauthorised physical access. By using a port blocker, cybercriminals can no longer insert foreign objects into your hard drive or other USB devices for malicious intent.

 

• Denial of Service – This is a type of cyber threat that floods a network, making it unable to respond to requests. This is used by cyber attackers to disrupt the “handshake” process. Other hackers take advantage of the time when a network is disabled to launch the attacks. A botnet, a type of Distributed DoS (DDoS) and often called a zombie system, can infect millions of systems with malware, overwhelming its processing capabilities. What makes botnets hard to trace is that hackers control them in different cities or countries. When your USB ports are left open, this creates a pathway for cybercriminals to saturate the open ports, causing legitimate users to have no available avenues for access to the computer system. As such, using a port blocker is key to preventing Denial of Service attacks.

 

• Man-in-the-middle – An MITM attack happens when hackers covertly slip into a two-party transaction, interrupting it and filtering and stealing data. This usually occurs when users use unsecured public Wi-Fi networks.

 

• Phishing – This kind of cyber threat uses fake communication, like email, to trick a user into opening the email and carrying out the instructions included in it, like providing one’s credit card number and other sensitive information.

 

• Password Attacks – This is when a hacker successfully steals your password, giving them access to a wealth of information. Social engineering is a kind of cyberattack strategy used by hackers to trick people into breaking standard security practices.

 

• SQL Injection – Structured Query Language (SQL) is a domain-specific language designed to manage data stored in a relational database management system (RDBMS). An SQL injection is a type of cyberattack that allows attackers to insert malicious codes into a server. Once infected, the server with SQL then gives the attackers access to critical information.

 

Conclusion

Cyber threats continue to evolve as the internet develops and changes. However, with suitable cyber security measures, such as using port blockers, you or your organisation will be able to protect your system from such attacks.

At DBR Systems, we are committed to helping our customers protect themselves from cyber threats. We offer IT-related peripherals, including physical cyber security products like Lindy USB port blockers in Singapore. You can also visit our store if you are looking to buy ink cartridges online in Singapore. Get in touch with us today for more information on what we offer.