What are the types of cybersecurity?

What are the types of cybersecurity

Cybersecurity & Privacy / Date: 05-06-2025

Generally speaking, cybersecurity is the measure by which individuals and companies are able to protect their devices and files from the threat of malicious hackers.
In fact, it is worth noting that the term hacker does not refer to a criminal, and there are those who use the term cracker to refer to someone who commits virtual crimes.
Just as there are different types of hackers, there are also different types of cybersecurity.
Each of them applies to a certain type of equipment, stage of data traffic or environment , among other possibilities.
Let’s get to know some of them below?

Operational safety

Imagine that you are a newly hired employee at a startup with a great reputation in the market.
In this case, you probably won't have access to restricted company data , such as those related to accounting and tax, for example.
This type of control is part of operational security routines, in which the company decides how it will protect its data by defining who accesses it and how they access it .
Companies that fail in this aspect expose themselves to so-called “insiders”, as hackers who act within their facilities are known, taking advantage of privileged access.

Network Security

DoS (Denial Of Service) and DDoS attacks are among the most common.
They consist of the artificial overload of the data flow in a network, making it impossible for its users to use it.
Let's say a cracker wants to steal confidential data from a company, but to do so, he needs to prevent the IT department from trying to contain him.
A DDoS, in this case, can serve as a “smokescreen”, by blocking people’s access to the network where the attacked servers are located.
Containing this type of attack is one of the functions of professionals and sectors responsible for providing network security, which also includes protection against malware in general.

Application Security

Just as networks are exposed to attacks, the same happens with the applications we use, whether in a personal context or within companies .
Application security is the cybersecurity response to threats targeting software installed on computers and mobile devices in general.
This way, sensitive data is protected, especially passwords and access data .
To this end, companies that provide applications define the security protocols to be implemented before they even begin developing them.

End User Education

A cyberattack is not always the result of the deliberate action of a cracker or an insider.
There are cases where viruses and malware are inadvertently distributed by ordinary users who, without knowing it, repeat risky behavior.
To prevent this type of spread of malicious agents, companies that invest in cybersecurity must also focus on end-user education.
In this regard, they take responsibility for providing information on cybersecurity, warning about the risks of opening certain types of emails and connecting USB devices .
In this way, it is possible to mitigate the high unpredictability generated by the lack of knowledge that the average person has about online security.

Cloud Security

Like network security, cloud security is dedicated to anticipating threats that surround a set of devices that share access to platforms in that environment.
It aims to prevent unauthorized data leaks, in addition to shielding the cloud against potential weaknesses and susceptibilities.
It also seeks to exploit possible weaknesses in access controls, in order to avoid attacks and interruptions in the availability of cloud computing services.
In the case of cloud systems, the main threats are malware and attacks, such as so-called advanced persistent threats (APTs).

Examples of threats countered by cybersecurity

DDoS attacks, malware and APTs are just some of the many types of cyberattacks that a person or a company's network can suffer.
The variety of threats, in fact, has justified the high investments that governments and private institutions have been making in cybersecurity.
After all, you can't joke around with a multifaceted enemy.
Sophisticated control measures must be adopted to make life as difficult as possible for potential invaders.
There are certain types of threats that are more frequent than others, considering the objectives they are intended to achieve and the greater ease in carrying them out.
Discover some of them below.

Man-In-The-Middle Attack

Man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks involve the theft of confidential data by an attacker who intercepts a communication .
This is usually an attack aimed more at stealing banking data, but it can be targeted at any type of online transaction.
One of the ways cybercriminals who use MITM act is by sending fake invoices to victims' emails.
They can also take advantage of security flaws in routers, creating a fake network for people to connect to.
From this point on, they gain the freedom to intercept all communications , gaining control over all information exchanged.

Malware

Perhaps the most common virtual threat is malware, software containing malicious instructions aimed at stealing information, among other fraudulent objectives.
In this type of virtual threat, the malicious hacker sends a link via email or even messaging applications that, if clicked, leads to the installation of that program .
In email, malware is sent in the form of attachments, which lead to .exe (executable) type applications.
For this reason, it is essential to have antivirus programs or extra protection in email accounts that can detect this type of threat, preventing its spread.

Ransomware

Ransomware is a type of malware whose purpose is to block access to files and directories on a device .
In this way, the attackers charge a type of “ransom” to return access to this data, thus configuring a crime of extortion.
The main risk, in this case, is paying the amount demanded by the criminal who, even so, does not return access to the files blocked by encryption.
This makes this cybercrime more common among companies, which would have more confidential data to protect and greater economic power to pay large sums to fraudsters.

Phishing

Although relatively easier to spot, phishing attempts can be quite convincing.
This is because, in this type of cyberattack, crackers pretend to be serious companies through emails requesting certain types of data.
This is what happens, for example, in messages falsely signed by banks, requesting password re-registration.
Phishing attacks also aim to steal credit card or e-wallet data such as Paypal.

What can be done to ensure cybersecurity in companies?

Due to the immense damage that can be caused by virtual attacks, every precaution is essential when it comes to cybersecurity.
In this sense, together with the sector or an IT specialist, it is essential to adopt preventive measures to avoid leaks of confidential data and its sources.
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