It’s important to know what the weakest links are for cybersecurity so that we can avoid them and keep ourselves protected. Good online security practices have never been more important, with more of us than ever before spending time on the internet.
So where are the risks and what are the weakest links? In this guide, we take a close look at cybersecurity vulnerabilities and what causes them. Knowledge is power, and by knowing where the issues are, we know how to fix them.
The weakest link? People
We hate to say it, but, people are the number one weakest link for cybersecurity. It’s estimated that 88% of cybersecurity attacks are caused by human error, and it’s not surprising. It’s not that we’re not aware of threats but hackers and cybercriminals are becoming smarter. New technology means that things like phishing scams are much harder to detect, and people fall victim to them more often than you think. Obvious phishing emails have now become well-branded and much more convincing, making them a lot harder to spot. But what you might not realize is, that by clicking the link in that email, you can risk not only your information being leaked but that of everybody in your company.
People causing cybersecurity weaknesses has only worsened with the Coronavirus pandemic. More of us have begun working from home and are left to work and browse independently without the constant help or monitoring from the IT department. The issue is that we’re now open to much more room for error. Weak passwords, visiting unsecured sites, and clicking on phishing email links are just three of the most common people issues that cybersecurity professionals face. Phishing actually accounted for two-thirds of malicious attacks during 2020, and theft of credentials is the most common attack type.
Social media is a relatively new problem faced by cybersecurity experts, and one of the main platforms that hackers use to trick everyday people into making huge cybersecurity mistakes. Whether this is a financial scam, downloading a file, or sharing information. More cybersecurity errors are made on social media like Facebook than anywhere else.
So what’s the solution to this problem? We’re not all cybersecurity experts and don’t know the inside-outs of our home or work networks. The best thing to do is request some training from your employer about how to better handle cybersecurity, or do some reading online. A lot of major businesses are now employing full cybersecurity teams, and part of the job is in-depth employee training in an attempt to eradicate human error. Mastercard is an example of a company doing this very well.
You can also exercise the strictest of caution and avoid doing anything that could jeopardize cybersecurity efforts. This means no installation of third-party applications, and no downloads. Using specific pieces of software such as antivirus programs can also help – that said, we’re also going to cover why tools can also be a problem sometimes.
Tools and systems
We’re relying more on cybersecurity tools and technology doesn’t always work as it’s supposed to. Sure, the best programs are pretty reliable, but they don’t substitute for good practices. Because we rely so heavily on tools, we sometimes fail to provide basic training to network users on how to stay safe online. This dependency on systems has caused issues for many companies worldwide.
Tools also prevent additional problems in that they too can be hacked or manipulated. It’s hard, but there’s nothing stopping some of the world’s smartest cyber criminals from penetrating through an antivirus system. This is especially true when corners are cut, which happens all too often.
Picture this. A business wants to save money and so invests in the cheapest cybersecurity tools. The cheaper and lower-quality products are much easier to manipulate, and so the company ends up paying more in repairing the damage than they would’ve if they had invested properly in the first place. Otherwise, you may even work for a company that has absolutely no cybersecurity infrastructure in place, which is just asking for trouble.
Cybercriminals
Cybercriminals are both the strongest link and the weakest link in cybersecurity, depending on how you look at it. These are very smart people that have a lot of technical experience and know their way around a network. Not all cybercriminals are out to take down the world, but some are, and they can cause serious issues for you and your business. Ransomware, for example, can be a very costly problem. These hackers are constantly finding new and better ways to attack.
They’re the weakest link in the cybersecurity chain in that they cause the biggest problems for individuals and businesses. If a cybercriminal gets access to your network, the entire business could go down, causing a huge weakness in your supply chain and day-to-day operations.
Hi, I'm Cliff. I'm based in Cleveland, Ohio, with my wife and two kids.
I have a keen interest in cybersecurity and have been writing about it for around a decade now. Due to my background in computer science, I am familiar ...
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