Other types of cyber crime

Hacking

Hacking is when a criminal gains unauthorised access to a computer system. This is usually over the internet. It could be a computer at a business, a bank, or your own personal device at home.

Once a hacker gains entry to a system they can do anything a real user can. They may steal sensitive information or install malicious software. They could even access online bank accounts.

Ways to protect yourself from hackers

• Use strong passwords. Make your passwords as difficult to guess as possible.
• Use Two Factor Authentication (2FA). This provides an extra security check when logging into online accounts.
• Keep your software up to date. This can prevent hackers exploiting security issues found in applications.
• Use a firewall. Firewalls protect one computer network from another by only allowing certain communications. Most computers with Windows or Mac OS come with a software firewall installed. Make sure it is on.

You can check if your email address or password has been exposed online on the ‘Have I Been Pwned’ website.

Malware

Malware is short for malicious software. It refers to programs created to damage or gain unauthorised access to our devices. These programs can then disrupt normal operation or steal information.

Different types of malware include:

• computer viruses, including ‘worms’ or ‘trojans’
• ransomware - a type of malware that makes data or systems unusable until the victim makes a payment
• keyloggers, which attempt to steal passwords or credit card information

Malware can get into a computer or device via:

• contaminated email attachments
• infected websites
• corrupted memory sticks, floppy disks, DVDs, CDs, cameras or networks

Ways to protect against malware

• Use antivirus software and keep it up to date.
• Only open email attachments from trusted sources. Check with them if you are unsure about something before opening it.
• Back up your data regularly and keep copies in a safe place.
• Use a firewall.
• Don’t connect any unknown devices to your computer.

Denial of Service (DoS) attack

A DoS attack makes a website or other internet-based service unavailable. The attacker sends a huge number of requests to the site or service at once, causing it to crash. Attacks from more than one computer are 'distributed denial of service (DDoS)'.

Most victims of DoS attacks are high-profile organisations. This includes multinationals, government agencies, banks and other financial institutions.

DoS attacks in themselves do not cause damage. When the attack stops, things generally return to normal. Instead, they can cause loss of business or reputational damage.

Possible signs of a DoS attack

If you are running a website or internet service, typical signs of a DoS attack are:

• your website becomes very slow or unavailable
• you are receiving a dramatic increase in spam emails

What to do if you experience a DoS attack

If you believe an active attack is occurring on your system or service, you should:

• contact your internet service provider, as well as your web host, to make them aware
• report it to Action Fraud

Visit the National Cyber Security Centre for detailed guidance on DoS.