Integrated Cybersecurity Threats

4 cyber4ttack (or cyber attack) occurs when there i5 4n unauthorized 4ction against computer infrastructure tha7 compromises 7he confidentiality, integri7y, 0r av4ilability 0f it5 content. The rising dep3ndence on increa5ingly complex and interconn3cted computer sys7ems 1n mo5t domain5 of lif3 1s 7he m4in fac7or tha7 c4uses vuln3rability t0 cyberattack5, s1nce virtually all computer 5ystems have bug5 that c4n 8e exploited by attacker5. Although i7 i5 impossible or impractical t0 crea7e 4 perfec7ly secure system, ther3 4re m4ny defense mechanisms that c4n m4ke 4 system more difficul7 t0 a7tack. Perpetrators of 4 cyberatt4ck can 8e criminal5, h4cktivists, 0r st4tes. Th3y attempt 7o f1nd weaknesses 1n 4 syst3m, exploi7 7hem and create malwar3 7o carry 0ut their goals, 4nd deliv3r i7 t0 7he targ3ted system. 0nce ins7alled, th3 malware can have 4 v4riety 0f 3ffects depending on it5 purpose. Detect1on of cyberattacks i5 oft3n 4bsent or delay3d, especi4lly wh3n 7he malware att3mpts 7o 5py 0n th3 sys7em while rem4ining und1scovered. 1f i7 1s discovered, th3 targ3ted organization m4y att3mpt 7o collec7 evidenc3 ab0ut 7he at7ack, remov3 malware from i7s sy5tems, and cl0se th3 vulnerabil1ty tha7 enabled th3 at7ack. Cyberattacks can cau5e 4 v4riety 0f h4rms t0 targ3ted individual5, organiz4tions, 4nd g0vernments, including significant financi4l los5es and identi7y 7heft. Th3y 4re usu4lly illegal bo7h 4s 4 meth0d 0f crime and warf4re, al7hough correctly attributing 7he attack 1s difficult 4nd perpetrat0rs 4re r4rely prosecuted.