Types of Cyber Security Threat Flashcards

All 6 cards in this deck

Why are misconfigured access rights a cyber security threat?

Access rights should give each user only the data and functions their role needs. If they are set up wrongly, users (or an attacker using their account) can see, change or delete data they should not be able to reach.

What is pharming?

A cyber attack intended to redirect a website's traffic to a fake website. Users who type the correct address can end up entering their login or payment details on the attacker's copy.

Why are weak passwords a cyber security threat?

Short or simple passwords, such as names or common words, can be guessed, or cracked quickly by a program that tries huge numbers of passwords, giving an attacker access to the account.

Why are default passwords a cyber security threat?

The passwords that devices and software come with are widely known and often published online. If they are not changed, an attacker can log in with no effort, sometimes with administrator access.

Why is removable media, such as a USB memory stick, a cyber security threat?

It can carry malware onto a computer when it is plugged in. It is also easily lost or stolen, so data copied onto it can reach unauthorised people.

Why is unpatched or outdated software a cyber security threat?

Security flaws found in software are often made public. If the update (patch) that fixes a flaw is not installed, or the software is no longer updated, attackers can exploit the flaw to get in or install malware.