Cybersecurity Cheatsheet
Overview
Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting computer systems and networks from digital attacks, theft, and damage. Here are some fundamental concepts in cybersecurity:
- Threats: Threats are potential attacks or vulnerabilities that can be exploited by cybercriminals. Threats can include malware, phishing, and social engineering.
- Security measures: Security measures are steps taken to protect computer systems and networks from threats. Security measures can include firewalls, encryption, and multi-factor authentication.
- Incident response: Incident response is the process of responding to a cybersecurity incident. Incident response can include identifying the source of the incident, containing the incident, and restoring normal operations.
Types of Threats
There are many types of threats that can be used to compromise computer systems and networks. Here are some fundamental types of threats:
- Malware: Malware is software designed to damage or disrupt computer systems. Examples of malware include viruses, worms, and Trojan horses.
- Phishing: Phishing is a type of social engineering attack where cybercriminals attempt to trick users into providing sensitive information such as passwords and credit card numbers.
- Denial of Service (DoS): DoS attacks are designed to overwhelm computer systems with traffic, making them unavailable to users.
- Ransomware: Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts a user’s files and demands payment in exchange for the decryption key.
Security Measures
There are many security measures that can be used to protect computer systems and networks from threats. Here are some fundamental security measures:
- Firewalls: Firewalls are software or hardware devices that monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic. Firewalls can be used to block unauthorized traffic and prevent cyber attacks.
- Encryption: Encryption is the process of encoding data to prevent unauthorized access. Encryption can be used to protect sensitive data such as passwords and credit card numbers.
- Multi-factor authentication: Multi-factor authentication is the use of more than one method of authentication to verify a user’s identity. Multi-factor authentication can include something the user knows (such as a password), something the user has (such as a security token), or something the user is (such as a fingerprint).
- Patch management: Patch management is the process of applying software updates to computer systems and networks. Patch management can be used to fix security vulnerabilities and prevent cyber attacks.
Incident Response
Incident response is the process of responding to a cybersecurity incident. Here are some fundamental steps in incident response:
- Identification: Identification involves detecting and identifying the cybersecurity incident.
- Containment: Containment involves limiting the scope of the incident and preventing further damage or data loss.
- Investigation: Investigation involves analyzing the incident to determine the source and extent of the attack.
- Remediation: Remediation involves restoring normal operations and fixing any vulnerabilities that were exploited in the attack.
- Reporting: Reporting involves documenting the incident and reporting it to relevant parties such as law enforcement or regulatory agencies.
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