Common Computer Security Vulnerabilities and How to Protect Against Them

Cybersecurity threats are a common concern for individuals and businesses alike. Unfortunately, there is no way to be completely safe from cyberattacks without disconnecting from the internet altogether. However, there are steps you can take to minimize the risk of falling victim to cyberattacks.

Identifying Cyber Vulnerabilities

To best deal with vulnerabilities, it is important to first understand the most common types of cyber vulnerabilities that exist today. Here are the five most common computer vulnerabilities:

1. Injection Vulnerabilities: This type of vulnerability leaves company data vulnerable during specific types of operation that occurs at the program code level. It is not usually easy to detect and can be exploited by skilled hackers.
2. Buffer Overflows: The Buffer Overflow flaw is one of the most common types of vulnerabilities and can be difficult to detect since it is buried in software code. A good hacker can take advantage of the buffer overflow and gain access to sensitive data before it is even noticed.
3. Sensitive Data Exposure: This flaw can leave company data vulnerable when it is being transferred from place to place. While most data at rest (stored on servers) is highly protected, data in transit can be susceptible to compromise if not properly protected.
4. Broken Authentication and Session Management: This vulnerability allows a hacker or cyber attacker to impersonate a company employee and gain access to company data for nefarious reasons or to cause mischief.
5. Improperly Configured Security: This vulnerability is often caused by human error, where too much of the wrong type of security software can leave a system even more vulnerable. Not following sound security practices can also lead to serious company data vulnerabilities.

Protecting Against Cyber Vulnerabilities

While disconnecting from the internet altogether is not an option for most individuals and businesses, there are steps you can take to protect yourself against cyber vulnerabilities:

1. Keep software up to date: Regularly updating your software and operating system can help protect against vulnerabilities.
2. Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication: Passwords should be complex and include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of protection by requiring a second form of verification.
3. Use antivirus software: Antivirus software can help detect and remove malware from your system.
4. Back up your data: Regularly backing up your data can help mitigate the impact of a cyberattack.
5. Train employees: Educating employees about cybersecurity best practices can help prevent human error that can lead to vulnerabilities.

By understanding common computer vulnerabilities and taking proactive steps to protect against them, you can minimize the risk of falling victim to cyberattacks.