What are The most common network security threats that Your Computer Can Face?

Here are a lot of potential threats that you can face while browsing the Internet, some you may not even remotely realize are a threat. In order to help you figure out the potential threats you face while on the Internet, we have prepared a guide to help you learn how to avoid them.

1. Rogue security software:
Rogue security software is malicious software that mislead users to believe that they have network security issues, most commonly a computer virus installed on their computer or that their security measures are not up to date. Then they offer to install or update users’ security settings. They’ll either ask you to download their program to remove the alleged viruses, or to pay for a tool. Both cases lead to actual malware being installed on your computer.

2. Adware and spyware:
Spyware works similarly to adware, but is installed on your computer without your knowledge. It can contain keyloggers that record personal information including email addresses, passwords, even credit card numbers, making it dangerous because of the high risk of identity theft.
Adware is the term used for various pop-up advertisements that show up on your computer or mobile device. Adware has the potential to become malicious and harm your device by slowing it down, hijacking your browser and installing viruses and/or spyware.

3. Computer virus:
Computer viruses are pieces of software that are designed to be spread from one computer to another. They’re often sent as email attachments or downloaded from specific websites with the intent to infect your computer — and other computers on your contact list — by using systems on your network. Viruses are known to send spam, disable your security settings, corrupt and steal data from your computer including personal information such as passwords, even going as far as to delete everything on your hard drive.

4. Trojan horse:
A “Trojan horse” refers to tricking someone into inviting an attacker into a securely protected area. In computing, it holds a very similar meaning — a Trojan horse, or “Trojan,” is a malicious bit of attacking code or software that tricks users into running it willingly, by hiding behind a legitimate program. Once inside your computer, a Trojan horse can record your passwords by logging keystrokes, hijacking your webcam, and stealing any sensitive data you may have on your computer.

5. Denial of Service Attacks:
Denial of Service attacks are attacks done with the intent of preventing users from accessing computers or networks. This is typically done by flooding a network with traffic, causing it to be so overloaded that it shuts down. This is mostly a risk for people who own a website, and there are methods to deal with them.

6. Phishing:
Phishing is essentially an online con game, and phishers are nothing more than tech-savvy con artists and identity thieves. They use spam, malicious Web sites, email messages and instant messages to trick people into divulging sensitive information, such as bank and credit card information or access to personal accounts. For more detail on what phishing is as well as to review examples of phishing email, please visit the Email Scam section of Monster’s Security Center.