By Erin Smith
Keeping your personal data and company safe from cyber threats is an important task. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) offered a webinar on how to keep your data safe from a cyber attack.
Cyber threats come in all manner of methods and from all manner of sources. According to FEMA there are national threats from foreign countries such as China, Russia, North Korea and Iran. According to FEMA, on the national level, Russia poses the greatest cyber threat to the United States. Russia has the capability to remotely access and data mine websites for information that can be used later to shut down websites or in fraud schemes.
According to information supplied in the webinar, Russia has been able to utilize and exploit weaknesses in computer systems though the use of malware programs and phishing programs to gain access to energy sector networks.
China is also a top cyber security threat according to the FEMA webinar. China is motivated by their goal of surpassing the United States in both industrial and defense capabilities. China has hacked into a company that was working on an underwater program for the US government.
Iran is focused on increasing their cyber capabilities and North Korea is credited with creating the Wanna Cry Ransomware. Ransomware is a malicious computer program which essentially locks a company or individual out of their computer system. The Wanna Cry Ransomware is still out there, according to the information supplied in the webinar.
Other cyber threats come from groups and individuals known as “hacktivists.” The term refers to individuals or groups hacking into computer systems and creating disruptions of service in order to call attention to a specific cause or issue. One such example is the group Anonymous.
By far the most prevalent threat comes from cyber criminals who are motivated by financial gain. They will utilize techniques such as placing malware (programs which disrupt computer systems normal functioning) into systems, using phishing schemes and other methods to gain access to personal data and financial information.
FEMA recommends being vigilant and being suspicious of unsolicited phone calls, letters, and e-mails asking for sensitive data regarding your company. They advise to never give out personal or financial data through links sent in e-mails. If you think your computer network has been hacked or in some way compromised, contact your local law enforcement agency.
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