Introduction
Communication through information systems has become a necessary component of enterprises today for process automation; either they have a distributed communication network, or they are for personal communication. As the complexity of these systems increases and it becomes almost the core of all operations, they at the same time become more vulnerable to attacks like cyber-attacks and data loss that are often accompanied by substantial financial and reputational losses for the company. This paper examines the system’s vulnerabilities and discusses types of security threats, including malware, hacking, internal breaches, and software vulnerabilities.
Vulnerabilities of Information Systems
The main characteristic of modern information systems is their inherent complexity, which increases their risk of being vulnerable to hazardous situations. They are complex systems of linkages and interactions that cover internal networks and the public internet and comprise various platforms and media interfaces. Consequently, greater autonomy is generated, which becomes the work of all agents and allows these agents to exploit this vulnerability. Besides, the extended accessibility of these systems, vital for communication and international business operations, exposes them to a broad spectrum of security threats (Humayun et al., 2020). Third parties and users who have yet to comply with the access rules can access sensitive zones when they are not adequately protected. In addition, the dependency on third-party services, like cloud computing vendors, poses another risk. Though the services offer scalability and resource efficiency, the challenge is data security and ensuring these third parties have stringent security protocols (Humayun et al., 2020). Thus, all these factors combine to create a situation where information systems are forever threatened by attack or failure.
Types of Threats
Malicious Software (Malware)
Malware represents all software created to damage any programmable device, service, or network. Malware violates systems’ integrity, as it affects their normal operations, steals sensitive data, or gains unauthorized entry into networked systems. Viruses are malware that clings to clean files and attacks other clean files that can spread uncontrollably, causing damage to the core functionality and deleting or corrupting the files (King et al., 2018). Worms are alike but differ, as they do not need a host program to propagate. Instead, they self-propagate, thus spreading in networks, leading to an enormous use of bandwidth and system slowdowns. Trojan horses deceive users by masquerading as harmless software just before they unleash their malicious functions once they make it into the system. Ransomware locks valuable data and encrypts it, asking for a ransom to release it. Hence, the damage caused by spyware, adware, and malware is more about the intrusion of privacy, spying on the users’ actions, and forcing ads accordingly.
Hackers and Computer Crime
Hackers aim to find vulnerabilities in every system for different reasons. White hat hackers are expert computer security specialists who use their skills to identify and resolve apparent vulnerabilities in systems; they are often hired by organizations to serve as cybersecurity team members. However, white hat hackers are needed who are trying to thwart black hat hackers’ efforts that involve stealing corporate information, vandalizing websites, or generally causing havoc. The grey hat hackers are somewhere between, often entering the system without malicious intent but without the organization’s consent, regardless of the issue of informing about the problem. They examine (Congressional Research Service, 2020). Cybercrime is a computer crime that suggests the usage of a computer or network at the core or significant part of the crime. Therefore, cybercrime cases not only lead to direct financial losses but also result in the organization’s business being disrupted, consumer trust lost, legal consequences, and sometimes a damaged company reputation.
Internal Threats
Internal threats are from organizations, which can be accidental or intentional. Insider threat covers employees, contractors, or business associates with inside access and misuse of their credentials to steal information, disrupt systems, or insert malware into the corporate network. Unintentional threats are when employees misaddress sensitive information, misconfigure databases, or are caught in phishing scams that compromise insiders and allow external attackers to access secure systems. Thus, the threat from insider attacks is significant as insiders already bypass some of the first lines of defenses that outside actors would have to negotiate, therefore exposing potential vulnerabilities.
Software Vulnerability
Software vulnerabilities are defects or shortcomings of a software system that attackers can use to perform unauthorized activities in the computer system. Design flaws, deployment mistakes, configuration errors, or intricate software architecture cause these vulnerabilities. Typical sources are lousy programming practices, insufficient testing, and outdated software. Old software may have known exploits but not patched, leaving systems vulnerable to attack (King et al., 2018). Software vulnerability risks are unauthorized data access, system compromise, and the threat of general damage if the particular software is popular. Therefore, software deployment monitoring and update maintenance are vital to avoid these risks.
Conclusion
In conclusion, information systems are exposed to severe vulnerabilities and dangers, such as various types of malware like viruses, worms, and ransomware, as well as threats posed by insiders and software flaws. Alongside this, hackers .their reasons, along with their behaviors, are the ones that affect, or influence, the overall security of systems. Analyzing and keenly supervising these risks are very vital as they are needed for having a perfect security structure that will guard vital information against any leak and disruption.
References
Congressional Research Service. (2020). Cybercrime and the Law: Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) and the 116th Congress. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R46536
Humayun, M., Niazi, M., Jhanjhi, N., Alshayeb, M., & Mahmood, S. (2020). Cyber Security Threats and Vulnerabilities: A Systematic Mapping Study. Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering, 45(1). springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-019-04319-2
King, Z. M., Henshel, D. S., Flora, L., Cains, M. G., Hoffman, B., & Sample, C. (2018). Characterizing and Measuring Maliciousness for Cybersecurity Risk Assessment. Frontiers in Psychology, 9(39). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00039
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