CYBER SECURITY INCIDENT REPORT

Published 26/01/2022

Both small and large scale firms are taking cyber security as a priority when making future decisions. Technology has done it for us, but the negative implications is that it has prompted businesses to venture into security protocols. The digital world is full of hackers, malware, and ransomware taking advantage of less secure systems and networks. In today's world, there is no privacy so long as you are using a network.

The demand for cyber security information and guidance prompted the development of cyber security incident reports. A cyber security incident is an attempted and unauthorized access, disclosure, denial of service, destruction, or modification of information. It includes violating an organization's policies, interference with information technology, laws, and regulations.

Examples of cyber security incidents include; unauthorized use of the organization's network or system, denial of service attack, compromising user accounts, theft of organization's data storage equipment, unauthorized modification of data, hardware/software misconfiguration, ransomware, cryptographic flaw, lost device, and phishing.

Cyber security incidents are meant to jeopardize the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of networks and information systems. The reporting should take place within 24 hours after confirmation.

Cyber Security Incident Report Template

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Types of Cyber Incidents

Here, we have discussed the cyber security incidents that may occur in an organization.

1. Phishing attacks

Personal information is private and confidential, but hackers work on systems and networks to access it. Phishing is an unlawful gathering of personal data using deceptive websites and emails. It is a very sophisticated and venerable cyber attack. Cybercriminals masquerade as trusted websites and emails that need personal information from their users.

Mostly, it is done through sending links that seem genuine and demand personal information like names, date of birth, residential area, credit card numbers, telephone number, and secret pins. When they gather the data, they use it to withdraw money from bank accounts, register accounts and deny the users from accessing their accounts.

2. Denial-of-service attacks

Cybercriminals practice denial of service to bar users from accessing a certain resource from the internet. Sometimes may include shutting down systems, websites, personal machines, and network infrastructure.

3. Malware and ransomware attacks

Malware combines worms, Trojans, adware, ransomware, file infectors, etc. Ransomware and malware are the unauthorized installations of malicious software in machines. Others are installed by users unknowingly when installing anti-viruses, freeware, and other applications. What happens is that a line of code is attached to the application being installed, and when clicked, it installs itself in the machine.

4. Password attacks

Hackers manipulate accounts to steal passwords to access the account without the users' consent. Cybercriminals use different tricks to obtain user passwords like brute-force, sniffing, password-cracking software, dictionary attacks, and password guessing. Out of the above password attacks, password guessing is the simplest and does not rely on complicated knowledge.

Some people use their date of birth as passwords, identification numbers, favorite car, pet, or nicknames as password. Password guessing is based on personal knowledge about the target. Attackers know that older people have low memory and cannot remember strong passwords. They often use simple digits like 1234 or their middle name as passwords.

5. Drive-by-attacks

If you've keen when browsing, you should have realized several links that re-direct you to other websites. These links usually have an engaging and attractive message like winning gifts, scholarships, love, and dating tips. The links are enticing but contain malicious scripts embedded into a code that, when you click, malware downloads and installs in the drive. The malware corrupts the machine and steals all data saved in it.

6. Man-in-the middle attacks

Communication between parties over the internet is very risky, mostly when discussing private issues or finance. Man in the middle is an intruder who intercepts and listens to the conversation without the knowledge of the communicating parties. Examples of man-in-the-middle attacks include; eavesdropping, email, and session hijacking.

Cyber security is becoming a trend in the 21st century because hackers terrorize people every second. Every company or individual who owns a website, YouTube channel, or a social media page is mandated to ensure that users have secure access to the data.