The rapid advancement of science and technology has made the world a global village. It is ever more connected. However, one of the most significant disadvantages of this interconnectedness has been the looming threat of cybersecurity frauds.
Several kinds of cybercrimes take place nowadays. Some of the major and most common ones among them include:
Phishing
It is a cybercrime type where the targets are contacted by email, telephone, or text message by a person posing as a legitimate institute to lure individuals into providing sensitive information.
Hacking
It is an act committed by a computer programmer whereby they access our computer system without our permission. The motives behind this act can vary. They can steal important personal information, our financial data and cause immense harm.
Email Bombing and Spamming
In this type of attack, an abuser sends enormous volumes of emails to a target address resulting in the receivers’ email account or servers crashing.
The list of cybercrimes can go on. These attacks can take a toll on an individual’s privacy and also causes an enormous loss for companies. A sensitive data leak from corporates or a country’s military arsenal can cause immense harm to a nation’s sovereignty. The threat from cybercriminals is getting increasingly sophisticated. So, the need is to upgrade the current technologies to deal with this precarious situation. Today we share the latest technological advancements that try their best to bolster online security.
Block chain
Block chain is the revolutionary technology behind Bitcoin. It allows consumers and suppliers to connect directly without the participation of a third party. For instance, one need not visit the bank for any transaction. Block chain allows consumers and suppliers to connect directly without the involvement of any intermediary. Block chain offers everyone on the network a ‘digital ledger.’ This ledger acts as a kind of decentralized database to share information without the risk of exposing the data to outsiders. So many banks and technology giants are experimenting with this latest trend.
Cloud technology
Cloud technology is virtual storage space on the internet. It allows users to store their digital resources such as software, files, and applications on a central network rather than on a local storage device or hard disk. Cloud technology is widely popular as it allows individuals and companies to save cost, increase productivity and improve performance.
But the drawbacks with such storage of data can be mounting if there are no proper security arrangements in place. It is mostly because of the severe risk involved with cloud storage. Most companies invest heavily in the protection of user data. Right from training employees in charge of data to enact new laws that do not undermine the clients’ interest are some of the steps taken by companies to protect users’ data.
Internet of Things security (IoT)
The Internet of Things can transfer data over a network that can function without human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. The IoT mechanism involves connecting any device with an on/off switch to the internet.
The Internet of Things is a giant network of connected “things” (including people). The relationship will be between people-people, people-things, and things-things. But the risks associated with this technology were immense. Any hacker could quickly get into people’s phones and laptops. Luckily most companies have rectified this error by having a cybersecurity infrastructure that all devices can share within a household.
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Artificial intelligence, also popularly known as AI, refers to the human intelligence simulation in machines. These machines are specifically designed to act, think and respond like human beings. So, the AI mimics every human action.
Machine learning is a subfield of artificial intelligence. Machine Learning is the ability of a machine to learn on its own without being programmed to do so. It is an application of AI that provides the system the ability to learn and improve from experience. The machine studies computer algorithms and keeps on improving upon itself. Machine learning technology is one of the most useful devices available to human beings to deal with cybersecurity fraud. This technology can collect data from a global information network and adapt to any new threat type.
Application Security
Application security involves making mobile or software applications secure by enhancing the security of applications. Essentially, application security is all about preventing cyberattacks from bugs in software that an organization uses. So, an application security team’s task would be to find and patch those bugs before they can manifest and harm any device. This can happen during the development of the app or later once it has been deployed. Initially, applications on a device were as secure as the hosting device. But this has changed a lot in recent years, with security software being an essential part of the app development process.
Due to high internet penetration, Cybersecurity is the need of the hour. Recent advancement in science and technology has improved our capabilities to improve Cybersecurity. But the same technology is also used by hackers to spy on our lives. Therefore, the risk remains. Hence, to secure our privacy and protect our data, countries need to invest more heavily in cybersecurity research, education, and training.
