Web security threats are hostile acts committed by hackers to steal and sell sensitive and private data, and damage or disrupt digital life. Cyber threats might originate from unknown people in remote areas or from trusted users within an organization. Although some web security threats are merely inconveniences, some are more dangerous and can even endanger human lives.
The table below highlights various web security threats, including the type and difference.
| Web Security Threat | Definition | Types | Differences |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phishing (Fake Communication) | Phishing cyber-attacks occur when hackers impersonate a reputable institution and contact a target through text messages, email or phone to trick the victims into giving over sensitive information such as passwords, credit cards and banking information. | Common phishing attacks are email phishing, spear phishing, angler phishing, whaling and smishing and vishing. | Phishing is not a software attack but can involve the use of software such as malware. |
| Malware (Malicious Software) | Malware is a program hackers use in carrying out various malicious actions remotely. Hackers can use malware to corrupt systems, steal data and more. Malware is often supplied over a network. Different forms of malware exist, meaning malware can infect computers differently. | The most common types of malware are adware, trojans, worms, bots, viruses, spyware and ransomware. | Malware is a general term that encompasses any malicious software used in a cyber attack. The name is a combination of “malicious + software = malware.” Trojans, viruses, adware and ransomware are examples of malware. |
| SQL Injection | Attackers use SQL injections to get access to a company’s private data by manipulating the backend database with malicious SQL. A successful SQL attack can lead to the loss of financial, personnel and other company data. SQL attacks can have a huge effect on a company’s bottom line. The cybercriminals could even gain administrative rights to a company’s database, which is extremely damaging to the firm’s reputation. | SQL injections are classified according to the potential for damage and the method used to access backend data. The types of SQL injections are In-band SQL injections, Out-of-band SQL injections and Blind (inferential) SQL injections. | An SQL injection involves using malicious code to access a user’s information or sensitive data. |
| Emotet (Banking Trojan) | Emotet is a malware program originally designed to look like a banking Trojan. Emotet is dangerous because of the ability to hide from essential antivirus software. The primary goal of Emotet is to spy on private and sensitive data and foreign access devices. | Emotet operates through botnets. Researchers named the botnets Era 1 and Era 2. | Emotet is a form of malware, a Trojan to be exact, that is spread through phishing emails. |
| Denial of Service | As the name implies, a DoS (Denial of Service) attack denies users or employees access to a particular service. The attack stops a machine or network from working. The attacker sends data to trigger a crash on the organization’s network or device or floods the victim’s network with traffic. | The three commonly known types of denial of service attacks are application layer flood, unintended denial of service and DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service). | DoS attacks are used to disrupt access to a particular service. In contrast, Man-in-the-Middle is used to gain information from a victim. |
| Man-in-the-Middle | Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) is an attack where the criminal inserts himself into a conversation between an application and a user (usually the intended victim). The perpetrator then impersonates one of the parties, pretending to carry on the conversation, or the criminal remains silent and eavesdrops on sensitive information. | Types of Man-in-the-Middle attacks include HTTPS spoofing, DNS spoofing, SSL hijacking, ARP spoofing, SSL stripping, IP spoofing and BGP misdirection. | MITM involves being in the middle of a conversation, whereas phishing involves getting a user to perform an action. |
| Password Attacks | Password attack is the most common type of web security threat. A password attack is when a cybercriminal tries to steal a user’s password. In 2021, over 80% of successful cyber-attacks were because of compromised credentials. Because most passwords are poorly designed, password attacks will remain a viable web security threat to individuals and businesses. | Phishing, MITM, brute force, dictionary, keyloggers and credential stuffing are types of password attacks. | Refers to any method used to gain a user’s credentials. |
| Adware | Adware refers to any software program that downloads or shows an advertisement while a program is running. The advertisements are shown via pop-up windows or bars that show up on the program’s user interface. Adware is frequently developed for PCs, however it can also be used on mobile devices. | There are legal and illegal types of adware. Legal adware is just a method of funding that is generally harmless. Malicious or illegal adware aggressively sends popups to a user, can hijack a user’s browser, and some can install dangerous software without the user’s consent. Known examples of illegal adware include the Fireball, DollarRevenue, and Appearch. | Malware is a malicious program created specifically with the intention of harming a network or a device. Adware is software that may track user activities and display adverts while also containing advertisements. Malware is always dangerous while some adware programs are generally harmless to use. |
| DDoS (Distributed denial-of-service) | A DDoS attack is a malicious attempt to obstruct a server or network’s traffic by overloading the target infrastructure with an excessive amount of Internet traffic. DDoS assaults are effective because they use numerous compromised computers the as sources of attack traffic. When viewed from a distance, a DDoS assault resembles an unexpected traffic congestion that blocks the roadway and keeps ordinary traffic from reaching its destination. | DDoS can be grouped into three types; volume based attacks, application layer attacks, and protocol attacks. | Attacks that cause a server to receive a large volume of UDP and TCP packets are known as denial of service (DoS) attacks. When numerous systems conduct DoS attacks on a single system, it is known as a DDoS attack. As a result, the targeted network gets flooded with packets coming from numerous locations. |
| Hacking | Hacking is the act of interfering with digital systems and networks by gaining unauthorized access to a computer network or account. Although hacking is not always harmful, it is most frequently linked to online crime and data theft by cybercriminals. Hacking is the term used to describe the misuse of technology, including computers, smartphones, and other IoTs in order to harm or destroy systems, track user behavior, steal data and documents, or obstruct data-related activity. | There are many distinct kinds of hackers, including state-sponsored hackers, script kids, white hat hackers, grey hat hackers, black hat hackers, green hat hackers, red hat hackers, and hacktivists. The hackers usually employ methods such as phishing, using a virus, DDoS attacks, to carry out their intention. | The difference between the different types of hackers lies in the motive. White hat hackers are cybersecurity experts that help protect organizations from cybersecurity criminals. Black hat Hackers are often the cybersecurity criminals that steal data, company fund, etc., for their personal gain. |
| Identity Theft | Identity theft occurs when a person defrauds another person by stealing their financial or personal information and using it to commit acts of commerce or other criminal activity. The methods used to collect the information range widely, from searching through someone’s trash to accessing databases. The stolen data can be used to incur debt, obtain credit, buy products and services in the victim’s name, or give the thief fraudulent identification. | There are several different types of identity theft, including financial identity theft, tax identity theft, child identity theft, social security identity theft, synthetic identity theft, and criminal identity theft. | Often involves using phishing techniques to gain access to the victims identity. |
| Ransomware | Malware known as ransomware prevents users from accessing their data or devices and then demands money in exchange for access. Attackers using ransomware target individuals, corporations, and organizations. | Three main types of ransomware include encrypting ransomware, scareware, screen lockers, mobile ransomware, and Mac ransomware developed in 2016. | Adware is not specifically malicious, but it does violate users’ privacy on purpose. Malware known as ransomware is created with the intention of preventing users from accessing their own systems unless the creator receives a ransom payment. |
| Spam | Spam is electronic junk mail and unsolicited messages that are sent in large quantities using an electronic messaging platform. Spam messages are intended to overburden as many inboxes as they can and are typically unwanted, disruptive advertisements. Spam is a term used to describe unsolicited email, SMS, and social media messages. | Four common types of spam include phishing, baiting, vishing, and quid pro quo where hackers exchange login credentials or data for a service. | Most cyber attacks are typically spread through spam messages meaning that spam is one of the major ways of distributing cyber attacks. |
| Spyware | Spyware is a harmful piece of software that tracks a user’s online activities and computer use continuously. Spyware’s primary function is to collect data, often known as “traffic data,” which may include keystrokes, screenshots, records of websites visited, or other kinds of sensitive or private data. The data may be sold to others with an interest in it or, in some situations, exploited for identity fraud, among many other uses. | The most common types of spyware include; banking Trojans, keyloggers, info stealers and password stealers. | In essence, spyware and adware are the same thing. The main distinction between the two is that although spyware may display adverts that are offensive or unrelated to your interests, adware is used to display advertisements that are intended to be meaningful to you. Malware is a file or a piece of code intended to harm a user’s network and machine while spyware is meant to gather your personal data. |
| Virus | A virus is a harmful program or piece of code that is designed to cause harm to a computer system or local network. The malicious behavior of the code may disrupt services, steal data, corrupt the local file system, download further malware, or perform any other functions that the malware author has programmed into the program. In order to fool users into using them on their devices and spreading the computer virus payload, many infections pose as genuine programs. | The nine main types of viruses are web scripting virus, resident virus, browser hijacker, boot sector virus, file infector, polymorphic, macro, direct action, and multipartite virus. | Malware refers to the different types of vectors used in carrying out cyber attacks. InRansomware, keyloggers, trojan horses, worms, spyware, and, of course, viruses are only a few examples of its subcategories. Viruses come in a variety of forms, but they all have the capacity to replicate themselves and spread. |
Table of Contents
What Is a Web Security Threat?
A web security threat refers to the risks from browsing the internet that could harm users online or cause an unwanted result or effect. Web security threats are a significant concern for individuals and businesses because of the damage the threats can cause. Examples of cyber-attack include phishing attacks, computer viruses or malware and data thefts.
Web security threats usually involve cybercriminals harnessing the internet for nefarious purposes and to harm targeted users. The criminals often create issues like exposing private data, unauthorized access, unauthorized changes to networks and computers and others.
This is important:
As the use of smart devices continues to rise and mobile networks get faster, web security threats and tactics have also grown to become more sophisticated. The Internet of Things (IoT) and web adoption increase through social media and many productivity apps have caused most users and businesses to be relatively careless with cybersecurity.Where Do Web Security Threats Come From?
Web security threats originate from different sources, such as disgruntled employees or contractors who misuse the access to carry out different cyber security attacks. Other sources include terrorist groups, hostile nations, hacktivists, lone hackers, criminal organizations and corporate spies.
What Are the Risks Associated With Web Security Threats?
A successful computer threat can cause significant damage to a business. This damage includes the business reputation, the bottom line (profit), and trust from customers. The risks associated with web security threats include legal, financial and reputational.
The legal risk to a business comes about because of data and privacy laws, which require companies to safely and securely manage all personal data (staff and customer inclusive). If the data is compromised either accidentally or on purpose, then the business has failed to deploy the proper security measures, which can lead to regulatory sanctions or, at the very least, fines. Cyber attacks can also lead to money theft, trading disruptions, and financial and corporate information loss. Cyber attacks can also minimize the trust businesses once had with stakeholders and customers.
What Are Threat Objectives in Cyber Security?
The cyber security threat objective depends mainly on the source of the web security threat. Corporate spies, for example, seek to gain an advantage over a competitor. State-sponsored actors are only concerned with pushing the interest of whatever home nation approved the mission. Hacktivists often fight for a cause that could be political, environmental or related to human rights. Terrorist groups and individual hackers often engage in cyber attacks for fame, recognition or financial gain.
How Can Web Security Threats Be Avoided?
Businesses need to prepare against the most damaging cyber security attacks and learn how to prevent web security threats. Different countermeasures exist to combat various threats. However, the first line of defense involves assessing the network and implementing appropriate security controls.
Common ways to prevent web security threats include carrying out cybersecurity awareness training, installing anti-malware and spam filters, deploying the latest security firewalls and others. Advanced attacks require the firm to have two to three security engineers to manage advanced testing of an organization’s network environment, such as routine penetration testing, creating data loss prevention plans and others. Larger firms with more established cyber security programs will frequently have specialized red and blue teams that conduct exercises to evaluate the security network’s performance.
Are Web Security Threats Dangerous?
Web security threats are extremely dangerous and can lead to problems such as loss of valuable data, national security breaches, military equipment failure and electrical blackouts, depending on the scale of the threat.
Can Web Security Threats Damage Your Data?
Web security threats can cause damage not just to a company’s reputation but also to the company’s data. The sole purpose of some cyber-attacks is to damage a nation or a firm’s data. In other cases, the damage could be an unintended consequence of the attack.