1. What does cybersecurity mean and why is it crucial?
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Cybersecurity involves protecting computers, networks, and sensitive data from unauthorized access, damage or attacks. It ensures that organizations and users remain safe, prevents data breaches and reduces financial and reputational losses caused by cyber incidents.
2. How do IDS and IPS systems differ?
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An Intrusion Detection System (IDS) monitors network traffic and alerts administrators to suspicious activity but does not block it. An Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) not only detects threats but also takes immediate steps to block or stop attacks in real time, offering active protection.
3. What are the typical types of cyber threats?
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Common cyber threats include phishing, malware, ransomware, DDoS attacks, SQL injection and man-in-the-middle attacks. Phishing, for example, tricks users with fake emails or messages to steal passwords or sensitive information, making it a frequent and dangerous attack method.
4. How can networks be effectively secured?
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Strong access control mechanisms, firewalls, IDS/IPS, VPNs, antivirus software, frequent system updates and ongoing monitoring are all ways to improve network security. By preventing unwanted access and lowering the possibility of cyberattacks, these procedures safeguard network infrastructure and data.
5. How does encryption work and what are its types?
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Encryption prevents unwanted access by transforming readable data into unintelligible code. Sensitive data is better protected by asymmetric encryption, like RSA, which utilizes a private key to decode and a public key to encrypt, whereas symmetric encryption, such AES, uses the same key for everything.
6. What is the difference between vulnerability assessment and penetration testing?
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Vulnerability assessment identifies potential weaknesses in systems without exploiting them while penetration testing simulates real attacks by actively exploiting vulnerabilities. Both approaches help organizations understand risks and improve their overall security posture.
7. How can cybersecurity experts stay updated on threats?
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Keeping up with cybersecurity requires following trusted security blogs, subscribing to threat intelligence feeds, attending webinars, joining professional communities, earning certifications and reviewing research reports. These steps help track new vulnerabilities and emerging attack methods.
8. What is multi-factor authentication and why does it matter?
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Multi-factor authentication (MFA) uses two or more verification methods, such as passwords, one-time codes or biometric data like fingerprints or facial recognition. MFA provides an extra degree of protection, guaranteeing that unwanted access is still stopped even in the event that one credential is compromised.
9. How should a ransomware attack be handled?
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Systems affected by ransomware are isolated immediately to stop the spread. Data is restored from secure backups while the attack vector is analyzed to identify weaknesses. Security measures are updated, monitoring is strengthened and staff are trained to prevent similar attacks in the future.
10. Can you give an example of a notable cybersecurity breach?
Ans:
The SolarWinds attack is an example where hackers exploited vulnerabilities in supply chain software to access multiple organizations Weaknesses in software were targeted and mitigation measures like timely patching, continuous monitoring and threat detection could reduce the likelihood of similar breaches.
