Types of security incidents are divided into several main categories:
- confidentiality breach – unauthorized access to information,
- availability disruption – the system becomes unavailable, paralyzing services,
- integrity violation – data is intentionally modified or manipulated,
- control takeover – an unauthorized user gains access to resources,
- social engineering attacks – e.g., phishing used to obtain data through user manipulation.
As much as 95% of incidents are caused by human error. Moreover, the average time to detect a breach is nearly 10 months, giving cybercriminals a lot of time to cause damage.
Symptoms that may indicate an incident:
- unusual computer behavior – slowdowns, crashes, self-launching applications,
- the appearance of new accounts or changes in user permissions,
- strange login attempts – e.g., at odd hours or from unusual locations,
- increased network traffic without justification,
- presence of unknown files or sudden changes in existing documents,
- warnings from antivirus software or firewalls.
Clear signs of a breach:
- ransom demand messages – typical of ransomware attacks,
- automatic redirection to suspicious websites,
- blocked access to accounts or services,
- unauthorized financial transactions,
- suspicious messages from contacts with strange links.
What to do if you suspect an incident:
- Immediately disconnect the device from the network – this will limit the spread of the threat.
- Document all symptoms – take screenshots, save messages, note unusual behavior.
- Change all passwords – using a trusted, uninfected device.
- Notify the appropriate parties – IT administrator, supervisor, bank.
- In case of a serious breach the national cybersecurity agency.
Prevention significantly reduces the risk of incidents. It is worth:
- regularly backing up data,
- updating software and the operating system,
- using reputable antivirus software,
- learning to recognize techniques used by cybercriminals,
- having a response plan in case of an attack.
A quick response and preparation can significantly reduce the impact of an attack and ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data.