Technical threats

 Ransomware:

This type of attack occurs when the hacker encrypts the users data and asks for a ransom. Until this ransom is paid the user does not have access to his data. Sometimes, even after paying the ransom the hackers don't return the data to the users.

Phishing:

This type of threat is where the hacker sends an email where they pretend they are some other trusted person/business and try to gain user's personal information. This type of email usually include some type of link where it redirects the user into a dangerous site where they gain user's confidential data such as card details, home addresses, and phone numbers.

Adware:

This is a type of software which will be showing the user continous ads, such as pop-ups. Adwares themselves are harmless to the user however they may include other malware such as key loggers which will then affect the user system.

 Key logger:

Key logger is installed on to the users device and its purpose is to record the users key strokes so the they can gain any type of information by the user. When the user is typing some confidential data such as passwords the hacker will be able to see what the user is typing this will allow them to steal this information without the user being aware of it.

Trojan:

This type of malware usually tends to appear as something which is wanted by the user or needed.  The malware will remain hidden and make copies of it itself whilst stealing information or even harm the digital system of the user.

Virus:

This is a program that is installed into the users computer, this then replicates itself and spreads throughout the computer and to other users computers as well. They do this by simply affecting files and when the user send this to other users they will download the file which then can affect there system as well as the virus is carried over to there system.

Worm:

This type of malware uses the network to spread itself. Unlike a virus this doesn't to be attached to an existing program, there harm is very minimal as they only affect the users bandwidht by consuming it.

Botnets:

There soul purpose is to take over the digital system, this type of malware allows the hacker to take control of the digital system which has been affected without the user's awerness. This results in an interconnected network of infected computer systems.

DoS attack:

This malware consists of when the user's network is flooded by spam emails, websites, and online accounts until the user's digital system can no longer either respond to the request or crashes.

DDoS attack:

This malware is very similar to a DoS attack where the attack is carried out on multiple digital systems. Its focus is to prevent a website or intternet service from either functioning effictively or at all.

Hacking:

This term means that a user has gained unathorized access into a computer or network.

Malicious spam:

This word spam is junk email which tends to trick people into giving any personal confidental information. There are many forms which include emails, phone calls, and text messages.

Cross site scripting:

This threat consist of a malicious code that is inserted into a legimate website or web-based application. Whenever, a user access the website or web pages, they may experience malicious spams or even social engineering.

Password-cracking software:

This software is used by hackers to gain access to data. This software exploits people who have easy or repetitive passwords which can be gussed quite easily. There are 2 types of techinques that the software tend to use, dictionary which will use a list of predifined passwords to gain access, or brute force which is when you try different combination of letters, digits, and charecters to gain access to the dat. Simple passwords can be cracked very easy and that's why user's should ensure to set hard passwords.

Pharming:

This type of spam is very similar to phishing as they both tend to use fradulent websites. The main difference between them is that phishing makes use of fake emails whereas pharming will rarely use such tactic.

Smishing:

This type of spam involves a hacker trying to gain the user's information via sending them a 'trustworthy' text message containg suspicious links which will redirect the user and making them fill in there personal information.

Spear phishing:

This form of spam involves an email being sent from a 'trustworthy' source and redirects the user to a webisite full of malware.

Vishing:

This form of spam involves calls and messages which pretend to be from well-known companies to try and trick people into giving out personal information, such as bank details and credit card numbers.

Buffer overflow:

This type of threat is the most common to softwares as this threat occours when data is being written to a buffer which then goes over the capacity. This data then exceeds the buffer boundary which means the data will overflow into other buffers, this causes corroption of data or even data being overwritten. This can lead to a change in the programs execution path and even expose some data.