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With the digitalizing world, individuals, institutions and states are sharing and storing more and more data on digital platforms every day. However, this situation is also causing cyber threats to increase rapidly. Cyber ​​security is of critical importance in eliminating these threats in the digital world and protecting data. In this article, we will discuss why cyber security is important, the main threats encountered and ways to protect.

1. What is Cyber ​​Security?

Cyber ​​security is the entirety of strategies, tools and processes aimed at protecting computer systems, networks, devices and data from malicious attacks. Its main purpose is to ensure that data is protected from unauthorized access, theft and damage. Cyber ​​security aims to protect not only individuals but also large institutions, states and global infrastructure.

This broad discipline spans many different areas:
– Network security: Provides protection against attacks targeting computer networks.
– Application security: Aims to identify and eliminate security vulnerabilities in software.
– Information security: Ensures data confidentiality and integrity.
– Operational security: Controls how companies’ information systems operate and who can access them.
– Disaster recovery and business continuity: Includes plans created to recover data and ensure business processes continue without interruption after cyber attacks.

2. What are Cyber ​​Threats?

Cyber ​​attacks are malicious attempts to disable digital systems, steal or destroy information. Here are the most common types of cyber threats:

– Malware: Malicious software, including viruses, worms, trojans and ransomware, is used to damage systems or steal data. Ransomware, in particular, is among the threats that encrypt users’ data and demand a ransom payment.

– Phishing: Attacks carried out through fake e-mails and websites to steal users’ sensitive information. When users respond to messages from a source that appears to be a legitimate organization, they may lose their passwords, credit card information, and other sensitive information.

– Distributed Denial of Service Attacks (DDoS): Attacks carried out by sending excessive traffic to prevent a website or service from working. These attacks are usually carried out with the aim of disabling systems.

– Social Engineering: A technique that allows cyber attackers to access confidential information by manipulating people. It creates security vulnerabilities by targeting people’s weaknesses.

– Internal Threats: Attacks carried out from within by employees, former employees, or business partners. These people can cause great damage by gaining direct access to systems.

– Zero-Day Attacks: Attacks carried out against security vulnerabilities that have not yet been detected or patched. Such vulnerabilities pose a great danger until they are noticed by software manufacturers.

3. The Importance of Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity plays a critical role in protecting personal and corporate information, ensuring business continuity, and preventing major financial losses. Here are a few reasons why cybersecurity is so important:

– Data Privacy: Users’ personal and financial information should be protected online. Cybersecurity prevents this information from being accessed by unauthorized individuals.

– Preventing Financial Loss: Cyberattacks can cause major financial losses for companies. Ransomware attacks, in particular, can force companies to pay millions of dollars in ransom.

– Business Continuity: Cyberattacks can disrupt companies’ services. A good cybersecurity strategy ensures that business processes continue despite the attacks.

– Reputation Protection: A cyberattack can seriously damage a company’s reputation. A company’s customers and business partners whose security is compromised may lose their trust.

4. Protection Methods in Cybersecurity

There are many methods and strategies that individuals and institutions should pay attention to in order to protect themselves against cyber threats. Here are some steps you can take to increase cybersecurity:

– Using Strong Passwords: Creating strong, complex, and unique passwords makes it harder for accounts to be compromised. Additionally, storing passwords securely using password managers and using two-factor authentication (2FA) provides an additional layer of security.

– Regular Software Updates: Security patches developed to close software vulnerabilities should be installed regularly. Older versions of software are more vulnerable to attacks.

– Firewall and Antivirus Programs: Firewalls protect systems by filtering out external threats. Antivirus programs detect malware and eliminate it before it can harm systems.

– Data Backup: Regular backups should be made to restore systems in the event of a possible cyber attack or data loss. Backups, especially after ransomware attacks, ensure that things quickly return to normal.

– Education and Awareness: Employees and individuals should be aware of cyber threats. Awareness should be raised about being careful against social engineering attacks such as phishing attacks and not clicking on suspicious emails or links.

5. The Future of Cybersecurity

With the continuous development of technology, cyber threats are also evolving. Technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning offer new opportunities for both attackers and defense mechanisms. Cybersecurity experts will have to prepare themselves against more sophisticated attacks in the future. In addition, cybersecurity measures will constantly evolve and stronger defense systems will be created.

Cybersecurity has become an indispensable part of the modern digital world. This area, which is of vital importance for both individuals and institutions, must renew itself against constantly changing threats. While strong security measures form our line of defense against cyber threats, it is also of great importance for individuals and institutions to be aware of this issue. We should not neglect to take cybersecurity measures for a secure digital world.

ARİEL YAZILIM .