Web threats use social media, phishing, and malware to steal personal information and cause financial damage. Malicious websites and social media increase the risk, and web threats can be difficult to detect and distinguish from legitimate sites. They can also download silently and cause serious damage when discovered.
A web threat is any method of carrying out a cybercrime using social media, emails with links to malicious websites, or otherwise tricking people into revealing personal information online. Web threats can also download malicious software called malware onto a user’s computer without their knowledge, so that the software can collect information and send it to an unknown party. Another technique is phishing, which involves persuading people to provide sensitive financial information under false pretenses. A personal computer can also be used as part of a botnet to create a network that allows cybercriminals to steal information and spread malicious code. Any web threat can cause serious financial damage and result in the loss of important business information, as well as damage to sales, brand or personal reputation.
With sophisticated multimedia technologies built into websites, often referred to as Web 2.0, malware such as Trojans and spyware can be downloaded unexpectedly simply by visiting a site. The ability for nearly anyone to add content to websites and databases has also created greater opportunities for cybercrime. Business and personal accounts face the consequences of phishing, a common web threat. A website can mimic the site of a bank or other institution recognized by the consumer or manager and invite them to enter details that can be used for profit. Many times phishing is done through a link embedded in an email.
Web threats aren’t perpetuated just by visiting websites or opening emails. They are also driven by the spread of social media and even adding personal details to a social media website can put someone at risk. Hackers go to great lengths to create their web threats and often use legitimate website content and company logos. A malicious site is sometimes difficult to distinguish from a legitimate one, making web detection and security a challenge and increasing both personal and IT risk.
A web threat can be completely irrelevant to a computer user. Malware can be downloaded simultaneously with web page content using Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), in a silent process. Web threats can be spread so easily because they use access levels that must be open for communication and access to information. They are also more difficult to detect than viruses programmed to spread rapidly, because most threats change rapidly and remain invisible before appearing. When discovered, a web threat can completely disable hard drives, operating systems, and expensive applications.
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